Inside Lorde's 'Mockingjay Part 1' Recording Session

According to Billboard.com, Lorde spent Labor Day weekend in New Jersey's Lakehouse Recording Studios working on the new single for Mockingjay Part 1. The yet-unmamed song, which will be played over the ending credits according to studio owner Jon Leidersdorrf, is "moody, dark and powerful."

As we reported yesterday, Lorde teased the first line of the new song to social media soon after the release of the new Katniss Everdeen character poster:

Lakehouse Recording Studios owner Leidersdorrf also confirms the tune's opening line.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 soundtrack is scheduled to be released three days before Mockingjay hits theaters on Nov. 21.

Lorde Teases First Line From Her 'Mockingjay Part 1' Single

Lorde is a Hunger Games fangirl too. After the release of the new Katniss Everdeen character poster yesterday, Lorde took to twitter and instagram to share her excitement and teased the opening line of her single for the Mockingjay Part 1 soundtrack (above), which she is also curating. 

I'm a princess cut from marble, smoother than a storm. 

We can't wait to hear the finished product and are intensely curious to find out what Lorde has cooked up for the entire soundtrack. 

Lorde Talks Surprises on the 'Mockingjay Part 1' Soundtrack

Lorde sat down with Billboard backstage at Lollapalooza to talk about her new gig curating The Hunger Games Mockingjay: Part 1 soundtrack. She couldn't tell us much, but she hinted that we'd be super surprised by a few of her choices. "You’ll be like, what? I haven’t heard form them in ages… but in a great way."

Oh, and she's definitely a fan. Read on.

Billboard: Spearheading an entire soundtrack, especially for a film as hotly anticipated as Mockingjay, is a pretty tall order, especially for someone still early in their career.

Lorde: Yeah, I was just saying that I literally watched the second film (2013’s Catching Fire) in a movie theater in New Zealand like a year ago. And now I get to curate the soundtrack. It’s crazy.

Lorde at Lollapalooza 2014 in Chicago

How did it all come together?

It came to me through my publisher, who is always bringing me really cool, weird opportunities. He was like, do you want to do the end credits song for the film? And I said, “Oh yeah that would be awesome. Um … what are they doing for their soundtrack, just out of interest?” And he was like, "I don’t know I can find it out." I was really keen to curate it. I had this idea that it would be really cool and I think I know what is the right sound for the project. So they were really into it and it just started happening. It’s really been my baby, which is awesome. It’s so rewarding, but it blows my mind that this massive studio has just handed the reigns over to a 17-year-old. I’ve literally been doing it by myself, contacting every artist, sorting everything out.

Can you tell us some other artists that are involved?

I don’t know if I want to tell you anything yet! It’s very new. But there are some people on there that you’re going to be super surprised by. You’ll be like, what? I haven’t heard form them in ages… but in a great way.

OK, we’ll stay in suspense. Was there anything specific about the Hunger Games series that attracted you to the project?

Yeah, I think there’s something about the Hunger Games that makes it a very modern-feeling blockbuster franchise. Often you get a heroine in a movie like that and they’re just not cool characters. They’re kind of sappy or kind of boring. But Jennifer (Lawrence) perfectly embodies Katniss Everdeen and you can’t not be interested in that character. She’s so smart and so tough and so brave, but she’s also like, I’m really confused and I don’t know which guy I want to date but like … hold on dude. There’s more important things to do than think about dating. I’ve got to save the world right now. It’s very fresh and modern which I like, but it’s also super youth based. It’s a good set of films.

 

Lorde also sat down and talked Mockingjay with 101.9 fm The Mix in chicago. Sounds like the soundtrack is complete but very under wraps.

 

Lorde to Provide First Single and Curate the Soundtrack for 'Mockingjay Part 1'

Lionsgate announced today that multiplatinum GRAMMY Award-winning recording star Lorde will curate the soundtrack album for the upcoming third installment of The Hunger Games franchise, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1.  In addition to hand-picking the artists for The Mockingjay – Part 1 soundtrack, Lorde will provide the first single for the highly anticipated film and album.  The soundtrack will be available via Republic Records this fall. 

Mockingjay director Francis Lawrence said of the collaboration:

I sat down with Lorde on the set of ‘Mockingjay’ this spring and I was immediately struck by how she so innately understood what we, as both fans and filmmakers, were trying to accomplish with the film. Her immense talent and keen understanding of Mockingjay’s characters and themes not only have enabled her to create a song of her own that completely captures the film’s essence, but her insight and passion for our project make her the perfect creative force to assemble the other songs on our soundtrack.  I can't wait to share what she's done with the fans -- it is truly remarkable.” 

"Curating the soundtrack for such a hotly-anticipated film was a challenge, but I jumped at the chance,” said Lorde.  “The cast and story are an inspiration for all musicians participating and, as someone with cinematic leanings, being privy to a different creative process has been a unique experience. I think the soundtrack is definitely going to surprise people.”