8. Teen Singer Lorde Is The Breakthrough Artist Of The Year
While Miley Cyrus may have unintentionally communicated her inability to come to terms with growing up and coming of age, 17 year old Lorde capitalized on this same anguish and turmoil, despite being two years younger than the pop sensation, making it a focal point on her debut album, Pure Heroine. A strong contender for album of the year, Pure Heroine is already nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at this year's upcoming Grammy Awards and was met with worldwide, critical acclaim. We were all taken aback by the young artist's mature vocals and scathing lyrics, yet surprising accessibility. Lorde's work this year gave us a refreshing insight into the future of pop music and critics around the world praised her for shying away from the usual, tired trademarks of the genre in its current state. Instead of further trivializing classic pop-teen themes, Lorde offered us a rare and realistic insight into many of them, something other pop artists haven't even bothered to attempt as of late. Proving herself as both a competent songwriter and singer, while flaunting a unique, grungy visual flair, Lorde made her mark in 2013 and set herself up for some massive potential with her ambitious debut album. All eyes are now firmly fixed on this promising teenager, who are waiting to see what 2014 and beyond may bring for her, and whether she will deliver the big things many believe she is capable of. Regardless, she will be remembered as one of the inescapable voices of the year.
