Lorde, at only 18 years old, has been given complete control over the soundtrack of one of the largest movie franchises in the world, and she has proven that she can handle it. This is unlike any soundtrack I’ve heard before; it’s risky, it’s catchy, and it emulates not only Lorde’s musical style but also the style of the 19 featured artists.

This album, especially as a soundtrack to such a huge project like “The Hunger Games,” exceeded my expectations tremendously. Honestly, I didn’t think I would like it all that much; I love Lorde, she’s an innovator when it comes to music, but I had my doubts about how she could get these varied talents to come together as one. But come together they did, branching multiple genres and still managing to capture the essence of the movie perfectly.

Lorde’s assembly of musical acts includes popular alternative artists Charli XCX, CHVRCHES and Tove Lo as well as rising stars like Tinashe. The album begins with “Meltdown” by Stromae featuring Lorde, Pusha T, Q-Tip and HAIM in a beat-driven ballad, then quickly dives into “Kingdom,” with incredible vocals from Charli XCX and Simon Le Bon. The 14-track album follows a steady crescendo of hip-hop and electronic elements until it reaches the conclusion with Lorde’s soothing “Ladder Song.”

Lorde’s powerful vision has shaped this soundtrack into a statement toward its true audience: teenagers who love “The Hunger Games.” It’s the beginning of an era where teens have influence over the music scene, and there’s no better place to start than in the booming business of young adult film adaptations. Props to Lorde for not being afraid to make up her own rules because this soundtrack will go down in history.