NEW YORK — Lorde, the singer who posted un-retouched photos of herself in concert back in March and loudly spotlighted her own imperfections, might not be the logical choice to front a mini makeup collection.
After all, the 17-year-old wrote on Twitter;https://twitter.com/lordemusic/statuses/450460437998747650 , “I find this curious - two photos from today, one edited so my skin is perfect and one real. remember flaws are ok :-).”
Imagine Mariah Carey or Jennifer Lopez doing that. Yeah, neither can we.
Lorde is candid, but doesn’t view herself as a role model per se. “Some things I do just because they’re important to me, rather than being selfless about it,” she says. “I know I have a degree of influence over the young people who listen to me.”
It’s why her MAC Cosmetics collaboration, out Thursday, is one of the most anticipated of the summer. And the collection is a passion project for Lorde. “I’m notoriously difficult in terms of, if I think a brand is corny, it’s very hard to change that. I used to buy MAC in New Zealand when I could afford it.”
In real life, says the Royals singer (real name: Ella Yelich-O’Connor), she’s decidedly low-maintenance. Hence, her decision to only launch two products: Pure Heroine lipstick and Rapidblack eyeliner. “I have a skeleton kit: tinted moisturizer, mascara, a lip. I’m not that good at applying hardcore makeup,” she says. “To be honest, I walk around all the time without makeup. I’ve had super-bad skin and it’s just starting to clear up.”
Most recently, Lorde made headlines for postponing her Australian tour due to health problems. Now, she says, she’s completely healthy, after her family made her slow down.
“I’m really good now,” she says. “I had a crazy chest infection and sinus infection. My parents told me I had to come home for a couple of weeks and relax.”
Musically, she’s writing for a few different projects right now. “I’m feeling that hunger, that urge, to be making music again,” she says. “I’m not out of ideas yet.”
In just about every aspect of her life, Lorde is about authenticity. That includes her commitment to always sing live, which separates her from many of her peers. “I’d just be panicking — can you imagine how scary that would be? What if I fell down and for a second stopped lip-syncing? I think about this all the time. I’d never do it,” she says.
The rest of 2014 means more performances, including her second North American tour;http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/06/02/lorde-announces-north-american-tour/9867959/ of the year, and trying to carve out some normal quiet time for herself and her boyfriend, James Lowe, she says. “Just playing all over the place. I’m trying to get everywhere this year.”
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