Before she was the precocious teenage global pop star Lorde, she was the precocious tween talent show star Ella Yelich-O’Connor. Video has surfaced of a 12-year-old Lorde rocking it at her Belmont Intermediate School rock band Extreme at the 2009 Intermediate Schools Battle Of The Bands Finals. As Lorde herself put it, “We’re gonna start with a bit of classic rock from Richard Blackmore’s Rainbow.” Then for a rousing number from the Cult. In a second video below, find Yelich-O’Connor singing Pixie Lott’s “Mama Do” on New Zealand’s Radio NZ.

Make sure to watch the first clip all the way to 7:58 for the interview, which is priceless. “The big stage really makes a difference,” says young Yelich-O’Connor. Indeed!

Turns out Extreme placed third at the contest; seems like they got a raw deal! All together now… 1, 2, 3, BELMONT!