Lorde is now a fully independent artist. In a series of voice memos sent to fans on Wednesday (March 18), the New Zealand singer revealed the deal she first signed with Universal Music Group when she was 12 years old ended in December. “I adore them, they’re incredible people, and I have had an amazing experience with them,” she said about her time with UMG. “But the truth is that a 12-year-old girl pre-signed and pre-sold her creative output before she knew what it would be like and before she knew what she was signing away.” Lorde went on to state that she’ll likely sign a deal again some time in the future—which “could well be with Universal”—but that she “needed to take a second to have nothing being bought or sold that comes from me.” “When I see an opportunity for a clean slate I take it,” she added. “And it does feel different. It sounds like it wouldn’t but it really does.…