Lorde has returned after a four-year hiatus.
The New Zealand singer last released her third studio album, Solar Power, four years ago.
Now, she has announced her fourth album, Virgin. The announcement followed the release of her new single, “What Was That”.
The new era marks Lorde’s return to music after a long break.
‘What Was That’ marks new bold era
Lorde returns with a new single
On April 24, the 28-year-old “Royals” singer quietly released her latest song.
“What Was That” introduces a new chapter in Lorde’s music.
The track combines synth-pop with emotional memories and longing. It also recalls elements of Melodrama and Pure Heroine.
The production has a bright, shimmering sound. However, the lyrics focus on sadness, memories and moments that remain difficult to forget.
The song also carries echoes of “Green Light”.
Therefore, “What Was That” gives fans a familiar but refreshed version of Lorde’s sound.
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“Virgin,” according to the Spotify countdown, will be released on June 27 this year. It will have a total of 11 tracks, including “What Was That.”
Speaking about her fourth studio album, the two-time Grammy-winning artist described the record as having a crystal-clear essence, “like bathwater, windows, ice, spit”.
She explained that both the lyrics and sound are stripped of embellishments, aiming for total honesty. “Full transparency,” she said. “The language is plain and unsentimental. The sounds are the same wherever possible. I was trying to see myself, all the way through.”
Lorde called it a reflection of her femininity – “raw, primal, innocent, elegant, openhearted, spiritual, masc.”
“I’m proud and scared of this album,” she added. “There’s nowhere to hide. I believe that putting the deepest parts of ourselves to music is what sets us free.”
Along with the countdown, the cover art for the album has also been released, featuring an X-ray image of a woman’s pelvis. Visible within the scan are details like a belt buckle, a trouser zipper and an IUD coil.
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