The Art of Minimalist Pop
"Royals" turned the pop music world upside down in 2013 with its stripped-back production and focus on vocal texture. Written by Lorde and Joel Little, the song relies almost entirely on a snap track, a bass synth, and stacked vocals. There is nowhere to hide.
To sing this well, you need to abandon the urge to "belt" or over-sing. The magic lies in the conversational, dry tone of the verses contrasting with the smooth, layered harmonies of the chorus. Let's analyze the vocal blueprint.
AI Coach Tip: Watch Your Diction
Lorde uses very specific vowel modifications. She drops her jaw and relaxes her tongue, creating a darker, "indie" tone. Our AI detects if you are smiling too much while singing, which can make the tone too bright for this track.
Phase 1: The Verses (0:00 - 0:48)
The song opens in the low chest register. The phrase "I've never seen a diamond in the flesh" sits around A3/G3, dipping down to F#3. For Sopranos, this might feel uncomfortably low.
The Technique: Don't push air to make the low notes louder. Instead, rely on "speech-level" singing. Speak the lyrics in rhythm first, then add pitch. Keep the vocal fry minimal—use it for texture at the end of phrases only.
Phase 2: The Pre-Chorus (0:48 - 1:04)
The rhythm intensifies here. The lyrics "But every song's like gold teeth, Grey Goose..." come in a rapid-fire delivery. This section is about rhythmic precision.
- Breath Control: The phrases are long. Snatch a quick breath after "bathroom" and "trash."
- Dynamics: Stay at a mezzo-piano volume. The energy comes from the consonants, not volume.
- Placement: Move the resonance slightly forward into the mask (nasal area) to cut through the bass.
Phase 3: The Chorus Hook (1:04 - 1:40)
The anthem kicks in. "And we'll never be royals" lifts the melody. The key challenge here is the switch between the chest-dominant lead vocal and the falsetto backing vocals ("Ooh, ooh, oh").
When singing the lead, keep it relaxed. If you are recording the harmonies or ad-libs in the app, switch to a breathy head voice to emulate that ethereal choir effect. The highest ad-lib hits a D5 and occasionally flips up to F#5.
Frequently Asked Questions
The lead vocal reaches a D5, while the backing vocal harmonies and ad-libs reach up to an F#5 in head voice.
It is moderately difficult not because of range, but because of style. It requires excellent breath control to maintain the dry, minimalist sound without sounding boring.
Lorde is generally considered a Contralto or a low Mezzo-Soprano, which is why the verses sit comfortably low (F#3) for many singers.
