Lorde: I said no to Katy Perry's world tour

Lorde performing at Vector Arena. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

Rising Kiwi songstress Lorde has admitted she turned down a money-spinning slot opening for Katy Perry on an upcoming world tour.

Lorde, the 16-year-old North Shore singer hitting it big in the US with her smash single Royals, confirmed to TV3 show 3rd Degree tonight that she turned down Perry's offer because it didn't feel right.

"I have a pretty good gut instinct for stuff and if it feels right I'll do it," Lorde told journalist Samantha Hayes. "I think she's really talented."

In her first New Zealand television interview, it was also revealed that Lorde - who was signed at the age of 12 - was initially expected to take things much slower, including releasing a covers album as her debut.

Instead, she released The Love Club EP - featuring hit single Royals - for free online late last year, and her debut album Pure Heroine is released on September 30.

Apart from the B-side for the single Tennis Court, a cover of The Replacements song Swingin' Party, she has released all original material. Royals has gone on to chart as high as No. 3 on the US singles charts.

"I wanted to do my own thing," Lorde said about initial plans for her career. "(I said) give me some time. I wrote and wrote and wrote."

Lorde also admitted she was "disgustingly nervous" before her iHeartRadio show in front of 5000 people in Auckland two weeks ago, and said her rider before gigs only contained water and energy drinks because, "I can't have alcohol, obviously".

She told 3rd Degree that she was getting used to the life of a high-flying pop star, and was even starting to enjoy it.

Performing was far better than attending school, she said.

"This feels like normality. I love it. I get to do these crazy things a lot of people wouldn't normally get to do."

* Read tomorrow's TimeOut in the New Zealand Herald for an exclusive interview with Joel Little, Lorde's producer.