'' Melodrama '' is built around Antonoff 's signature production , which incorporates drums , synths , layered vocals and straightforward hooks . Lorde and Antonoff met in early 2014 at a Grammy after-party and later had several " exploratory " writing sessions before Lorde hired him as the main co-writer on the album . Lorde worked on '' Melodrama '' in Antonoff 's Rough Customer Studios in New York City and at her home in New Zealand . The song structures on the record are traditional in construction , with piano-based melodies in contrast with the hip-hop influences on Lorde 's first album . The singer took a classicist approach , usually composing a melody and then trying different vocal falsettos ; Lorde said that because of this , the whole album can be played in acoustic form . She also cited her desire to explore a " cathartic mode " for the album . Several publications noted its maximalist pop production , a departure from the singer 's signature minimalist style . '' Melodrama '' has been described by critics as a pop and electropop album
Grammy
56th Annual Grammy Awards
Melodrama (Lorde album)