Just after Easter Weekend, she has risen again.
The sensational singer-songwriter, Lorde, is back with a new single after a four-year break. Her newest single, ‘What Was That’, hit streaming services the morning of April 24th, marking the beginning of not only a new era, but also a cultural shift that could be Lorde Summer.
Initially, ‘What Was That’ was teased by Lorde on TikTok via a Video of Lorde walking through Washington Square Park. This was the first official confirmation fans had received of new music, as before this, there had only been rumours and speculation that Lorde was in the studio, mainly through photos of her with Dev Hynes (Blood Orange), among other cryptic Instagram Stories.
[ 'What Was That' Single Cover Shot By Talia Chetrit ]
On the night of April 22nd, a few days after ‘What Was That’ was officially announced via Lorde’s Instagram, the artist told her fans to meet in Washington Square Park at 7 PM for a surprise. Unfortunately, due to the number of people within the area and the lack of permits for an outdoor show, the police had to disperse the event before Lorde even entered the park. That didn’t stop her fans, however, with a few sticking around the park, while others took to the streets of New York, loudly singing ‘Supercut’ and ‘Ribs’ in a protest of sorts.
For the few dedicated Lorde fans who continued to hang around the park, they were rewarded by seeing Lorde in the flesh. She stood elevated on a platform in the middle of a huge circle, stunning in her holographic bikini top and baggy jeans, performing ‘What Was That’ for the very first time. Footage from this event can be featured in Lorde’s vlog-esque music video for ‘What Was That’.
“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 via Her Website about ‘What Was That’
‘What Was That’ transports listeners back to Lorde’s Melodrama (2019) era, straying far away from the bright and relaxing sounds featured in her most recent body of work, Solar Power (2021). There's an emotional grit behind ‘What Was That’ that is emphasized by Lorde’s choice of synths and drums, poking the healing wound of nostalgia. Fans online have been comparing the track to Lorde’s ‘Green Light’, describing ‘What Was That’ as an older sister, though I wouldn’t necessarily say this sister is more mature, but you may need to make that judgment for yourself.
STREAM WHAT WAS THAT ON ALL PLATFORMS HERE.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR LORDE 4
