The New Zealand prodigy's meteoric rise was largely fuelled by her distinctive sound, a blend of alternative, pop and hip-hop. She revels in the moody melodies of Portishead and James Blake, brightening her sound with the glam-rock eccentricities of Bowie, who was a Lorde fan himself. This playlist takes a closer look at those who inform her unique sound, from the off-kilter experiments of Grimes and Toro y Moi, to the alt-pop sheen of Bleachers and the power and passion of Solange and Blood Orange.