Lorde explains why those Sylvia Plath comparisons are completely unfounded

The pop star admits she is no “genius” like the late great poet and author

Winner: Best International Female (PA)

New Zealand pop star Lorde has admitted that she is no Sylvia Plath.

The singer-songwriter has dispelled unfounded press comparisons to the celebrated author and poet, who wrote some of literature’s most famous books.

“Never for a second would I put myself beside a genius like Sylvia Plath,” she said. “I may have specific tastes but I’m not trying to be avant-garde with my approach or my music. I like indie [rock], pop and literature. I like to play with them but that doesn’t make me a genius.”

Lorde is known for her hit single Royal, while Plath created some of the most notable works in literary history – from The Bell Jar to Ariel. So far, so different.

The 17-year-old also talked once again about unrealistic ideals of women in music today, holding rock ‘n’ roll zeitgeist Patti Smith as her ultimate pin-up.

“She was frustrated,” Lorde told Fashion magazine. “She didn’t take people’s shit. There’s no better music idol for young women, because there is a lot of pressure for us to be really positive all the time. Every photo shoot I do, I get asked for big smiles, and I shouldn’t have to be that way.”

Far from many of her scantily-dressed clone-like peers, Lorde recently addressed the media’s usage of Photoshop with current today’s stars by sharing two pictures of herself from a recent gig in Chile – one which had been doctored, and another edited version. She tweeted the following reassuring message alongside the images: ”I find this curious - two photos from today, one edited so my skin is perfect and one real. remember flaws are ok :-)”

May a new genre of pop princesses emerge.