It’s been 4 years because the final Lorde summer season, though the artist born Ella Yelich-O’Connor hasn’t been completely quiet since her Jack Antonoff-produced “weed album” Photo voltaic Energy. She sang in te reo Māori on each a Photo voltaic Energy companion EP and a Marlon Williams album; she coated Speaking Heads, MUNA, Bananarama, the Strokes, Rosalía, and Britney Spears; and she or he broke the web by becoming a member of Charli XCX on a remix of “Woman, so complicated.” Anticipation for LP4 has been rising because the New Zealand pop star previewed new music at a UK competition two years in the past and now we lastly have our first style.
The brand new Lorde single comes after a derailed preview pop-up in NYC final night time. Yesterday, followers who subscribed to Lorde textual content updates obtained a message to “meet [her] within the park.” As they packed out Washington Sq. Park (a location Lorde teased on social media) the NYPD shut the factor down simply minutes earlier than it was scheduled to start at 7 p.m. “Omg @thepark the cops are shutting us down,” Lorde wrote on Instagram Tales. “I’m actually Amazed by what number of of you confirmed up !! However they’re telling me you gotta disperse … I’m so sorry.” Finally her collaboator Dev Hynes aka Blood Orange confirmed up with a speaker to debut the only “What Was That,” and later Lorde herself returned to bop on a desk because it performed once more. Now, the tune is formally streaming.
Lorde co-wrote “What Was That” with Jim-E Stack, the pair produced it with Chappell Roan/Olivia Rodrigo collaborator Dan Nigro, and Stack and Nigro performed all of the devices save for some guitar contributed by Mk.gee bandmate Andrew Aged. It’s an upbeat, lovelorn banger that sounds extra Melodrama than Photo voltaic Energy and is directed in the direction of an ex-lover who apparently left Lorde blindsided: “MDMA within the again backyard, blow our pupils up/ We kissed for hours straight, nicely child, what was that?” The lyrics additionally point out getting caught in a sandstorm in an “Indio haze,” undoubtedly a Coachella reference. Seemingly place for Lorde to be.
“I actually suppose that this tune is the music of my rebirth,” Lorde mentioned in a post-shower voice memo to textual content subscribers on Wednesday night. “It’s certainly one of my favourite songs I’ve ever written, ever produced. The video’s so sick. It’s simply totally different this time. You’ll see.”
Watch the video, which includes footage from final night time’s chaotic occasion, and see some further textual content from Lorde in regards to the observe beneath.
LATE 2023. BACK IN NEW YORK. DEEP BREAKUP. STOPPING BIRTH CONTROL. EVERY MEAL A BATTLE. FLASHBACKS AND WAVES. FEELING GRIEF’S VORTEX AND LETTING IT TAKE ME. OPENING MY MOUTH AND RECORDING WHAT FELL OUT. JIMMY SHOUTING IN THE BACKGROUND. A THOUSAND HOURS OF AUDIO EMBROIDERY. DAN TELLING US WHERE THE MOOG BASS SHOULD GO. ANDREW GIVING IT TEETH. THE NIGHT WE FINALLY GOT THE DRUMS RIGHT. THE SOUND OF MY REBIRTH
Lorde singing at washington sq NOW pic.twitter.com/xryPQqDPnZ
— Pop (@spanish_pop_) April 23, 2025
