New Lorde single surfaces online

Lorde performing at Vector Arena. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

A new single by Lorde has surfaced online.

Team, from the teenage star's upcoming debut album Pure Heroine, premiered on radio earlier today.

It had to be released earlier than planned after it leaked in the US.

The song appeared on several blogs and news sites soon after its radio debut.

It is built around an instantly memorable chorus hook and Lorde's trademark down-to-earth lyrics - including the repeated line : "I'm kinda over being told to throw my hands up in the air - so there."

Lorde, whose real name is Ella Yelich-O'Connor, told Billboard the song contrasts her life in New Zealand with the glamour seen on TV and in movies.

"In that song, there are a few lines which are kind of me being the 'realistic' pop star: "We live in cities you'll never see onscreen," which is like, no one comes to New Zealand, no one knows anything about New Zealand, and here I am, trying to grow up and become a person. I've been countering that with going to New York and seeing this place that's in every movie and every TV show. Part of me wanted to go back to writing for me and for my friends, and write something that I felt related to us a little bit"

Team officially debuted on Lorde's YouTube channel this evening.

Listen to it below:

- nzherald.co.nz