She bought her first home at 18, but Lorde has conceded that in doing so, she contributed to Auckland's housing crisis.

In the latest episode of American comedian Marc Maron's podcast WTF, Ella Yelich-O'Connor acknowledges that by purchasing her home in Herne Bay, she helped perpetuate Auckland's housing crisis.

"I'm definitely part of that problem, I think. I bought a house in the last two years. It's hard for young people to buy houses and to rent."

Lorde discussed music and songwriting with comedian and podcast host Marc Maron

The comments were made during a discussion about New Zealand, in which Yelich-O'Connor told Maron it "has problems, like any country. We have a housing crisis going on right now, which sucks."

READ MORE

* Lorde gives us postcode envy with first-home buy

* Lorde's difficult second record

* Lorde's music crafted by rare neurological condition synesthesia

* Lorde blasts US 'system' that allowed the violence to erupt in Charlottesville

In the revealing interview, Yelich-O'Connor also recalls how she got started in the music industry, her songwriting process, and explains how she experiences the neurological condition synesthesia.

FIONA GOODALL/GETTY IMAGES Yelich-O'Connor with Joel Little in 2013. After working with Little, Lorde "met my synesthesia in a big way".

"Synesthesia is, like, when senses overlap. So, for me, colours, textures and tones correspond with music and words and linguistic stuff and aural stuff," she says.

At times, the condition is overwhelming, and Yelich-O'Connnor says she wishes it could be treated with medication. She describes it as "beauty-terror; it's horrific and it's wonderful.

"I've been in a couple of near car crashes and both times the person next to me has said, 'Why did you put your hands over your ears instead of your eyes?' Most people would not want to look, but I don't want to hear it. It's too potent, too terrifying."

Making music is a colourful process, she says. "I make very visual music. For me, when something is at peak ultra-violet or peak blue, I'm heading in the right direction. But it can be a lot. I basic have to make music with my eyes closed."

Even listening to music can become too intense for Yelich-O'Connor; she lists Neil Young and Fleetwood Mac as musicians who she doesn't find overwhelming. "The Mamas & the Papas get a little bit intense synesthesia-wise for me," she says. "Theres this crazy modulation going on, or all of a sudden we're in a different key. That can get crazy, synesthesia-wise."

It was only after she began writing songs with producer Joel Little that she harnessed her condition. "It was the first moment where I really met my synesthesia in a big way, writing songs. It's like drugs - seeing all these colours, and just sitting in the studio and chasing it for, like, 18 hours, because you're just like, I have to get this thing down. It was very clear to me I've met the thing that's going to compel me for the rest of my life."