My Artists Representation

Lorde's Representation

Lorde is an artist who mainly fits into the alternative genre however she can also fit into the hybrid genres of house music, for example in her featuring song Disclosure- 'Magnets', and also some of her new music can be argued to be more in the pop culture.

Despite some of her music fitting into other genres, Lorde is overall generally perceived as an indie/alternative artist. This is mainly due to her style and the fact she isn't a stereotypical young female artist in today's music industry.

Her music and lyrics are much deeper than the likes of Beyonce or Rihanna which is why you cannot argue she is a pop singer. Also her style is much different also as she has a unique attire. Her music is often on topics such as  fitting in or society. Her voice is very alternative and distinct which is probably what allows her to be classified into the alternative genre. 

In the media, Lorde is often portrayed as exactly that; unique. She is seen this way because she doesn't fit the typical mainstream female artist persona; she is intelligent and doesn't care too much about the way she is perceived for her looks but more for her music. The media recognises this and gives it credit. 

Here we can see how Lorde's unique and alternative style fits her music genre;

How is Lorde portrayed in the media?

Lorde is portrayed as a strong 'modern woman' who is independent and reliant upon herself. 

She is often portrayed as a feminist and someone who speaks out for social issues such as sexism and inequalities such as homosexual rights.

Because of this she does have a mainstream audience, which is why she is so popular, however I believe that artists like Lorde are the reason as to why 'alternative'  music is gradually becoming the mainstream in teenage audiences; more teens enjoy alternative music nowadays. 

Further more Lorde is seen as unique because, unlike most young female artists, her fans admire her mainly for her music as opposed to her image, although this is still a contributing factor. Other artists such as Taylor Swift and Beyonce will get fans due to their image and how they act during performances, however it can be argued that Lorde's fans are entirely there for her music. This is another reason as to why she fits into the alternative genre.

Live performances

Lorde is recognised for her live performances as they show her style of music through the way she performs; they are very alternative and are entirely unique to her as an artist. People remember them because they are individual and clever, and her dance moves show how well she fits into the alternative genre. Her live performances are what give her a slightly niche audience because not everyone enjoys her sort of performances.

Why is Lorde perceived by audiences in a certain way?

The reason Lorde is portrayed in a certain way as being alternative is initially due to her management portraying her this way and getting her to perform differently so she stands out, hence becoming 'alternative'. The media then creates a stigma surrounding the artist and that is how the audience then begins to like/dislike the artist. 
Audiences who already like the indie genre will see the way in which Lorde is presented in the media and recognize the conventions of this genre in her music or style. EG; Dark eye make up.