Lorde works with a vision, while Broods say 'we have to find it'

Broods have revealed the major difference between themselves and Lorde. Photos / Renata Raksha, Gabriel Olsen

New Zealand musical sensation Lorde has an unconventional approach to songwriting, say her recent collaborators and fellow New Zealanders, Broods.

Lorde, real name Ella Yelich-O'Connor, teamed up with the brother and sister duo to write the song Heartlines, which features on Broods' new album, Conscious.

Georgia Nott, 22, and brother Caleb, 24, have played together in bands since they were children.

Caleb mans the keyboards and Georgia sings but she sometimes plays piano where needed.

"We've always grown up playing instruments," Georgia told AAP.

When they write songs they start by playing on their instruments. Lorde, on the other hand, begins with a fully formed concept in her head that she then has to try to translate into music.

"We work very differently," Caleb told AAP.

"Ella's stuff is all in her head, she's already got it there. Whereas we f*** about until it sounds good. We have to find it and she has to explain it to people to make it something."

The Notts were fascinated to see how Lorde worked.

"We play things whereas hers is just this huge concept in her brain, and it's amazing how she works. It's totally different to what we do so it was kind of interesting to see that," Caleb said.

At 19 years of age, Lorde has already had a number one album in New Zealand and Australia and is the youngest solo artist to hit the top spot on the US Billboard 200 singles charts with her debut single Royals. But she stays grounded.

"It was just like another writing session. It didn't feel like you were writing with this big person with a number one. It just felt like you were writing with this person," Caleb said.

New Zealand producer Joel Little assisted Lorde on her rise to the top by helping cultivate her signature electro-infused sound.

He did the same with Broods, producing their first album, Evergreen.

During the last two years the Notts siblings have spent most of their time on the road internationally supporting major artists Sam Smith and Ellie Goulding and they've recently move to LA fulltime.

However, with Little signed on as executive producer on Conscious and by enlisting Lorde's co-writing skills, they stay true to their roots.

"We're proud to be Kiwis," Georgia said.

Caleb added, "We're proud to work with them as well and bring everyone up together."

Conscious is out now and Broods will play Christchurch's Horncastle Arena on July 14, Auckland's Vector Arena on July 15, Wellington's Shed 6 on July 17, and Dunedin's Union Hall on July 18.