SHE’S the 18-year-old pop sensation who blew the world away with her hit single Royals, but Lorde says she didn’t really know what she wanted to do as a young teenager.

The New Zealand born singer — real name Ella Yelich-O’Connor — fronts the cover of the July issue of Vogue Australia and revealed in the exclusive interview just how much her life has changed in three short years.

“As a young teen, I went to a lot of David Lynch films, I read a lot of strange books, I loved to go to the museum all day,” she said.

“I was that kid. I liked to hang out with people older than me; I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. Writing and singing were just a hobby.”

But the chart-topper, who said she’d never really travelled before hitting the big time, knows just how lucky she is.

“It’s crazy going from living in a country that feels kind of small — and I’d never travelled, really — then coming to LA or New York for the first time, and meeting all these people outside your group of friends from high school.

“The world has expanded for me in this incredible way. It’s cool, and I’m very lucky that I get to surround myself with creative people who are clever and good at what they do.”

These days, Lorde’s regular travel companion is still her mother, Sonja. “I still forget to eat dinner or forget to do my laundry, so she keeps me moving,” she said.

In terms of normality, Lorde said returning to her hometown is a chance for her to chill out. “It is easier to have a normal life back home. I think everyone knows that they’re going to see me around, that I’m going to be buying gum from a gas station or whatever.

“The shine rubs off when you’re like: ‘Oh yeah, my friend met her in the supermarket the other day.’ I think people are much more chill about it. Yeah, people are good there, respectful. I love living in New Zealand.”

The style-savvy hit maker spoke about her unique dress sense and how it has evolved over the last few years. “As I get older and a little bit more comfortable in myself, I’m like: ‘Yeah, I will wear that really pretty, feminine outfit’, and I’ll feel strong in that as well,” she said.

“But I do love a perfect pair of pants, the perfect collared shirt, and I wear sneakers, heavy shoes. I like Acne, I like Céline, and often I’ll buy a pair of men’s pants or whatever. I don’t discriminate in that way.”

Following an eventful, extraordinary three years in the spotlight, Lorde said she feels more comfortable approaching her highly anticipated second album.

“I don’t know how to explain it. I guess I just know how much I love doing this, and I know how special it is to me. When you are that invested in something, it’s always going to hopefully treat you well.

“You also realise how seriously people are taking what you’re doing and how they’re savouring every word and living inside the songs …”

The July issue of Vogue Australia is on sale Monday 15 June.