Lorde Drops “What Was That” and Sparks a New Era of Music

Get ready, world—Lorde is back, and she’s making a statement. The New Zealand singer-songwriter just released her latest track, “What Was That”, a mesmerizing synth-pop anthem that feels like a natural bridge between the emotional highs of Melodrama and the introspective glow of Solar Power. With breathy vocals, dreamlike production, and lyrical vulnerability, Lorde dives into memories and moments that feel both deeply personal and universally haunting.

This unexpected release wasn’t just about the music—it was a full-on pop culture moment that turned Washington Square Park into a spontaneous stage and proved once again that Lorde knows how to build a movement, not just drop a song.

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“What Was That” begins with Lorde whisper-singing through moments of late-night chaos and emotional vulnerability:

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“MDMA in the back garden, blow our pupils up / We kissed for hours straight / Well baby, what was that?”

The song plays like a confession, wrapping hazy memories in hypnotic synths and longing melodies. Fans immediately drew comparisons to her Melodrama era—an album that also blurred the lines between heartbreak and euphoria.

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But the release of “What Was That” wasn’t limited to a digital drop. On Tuesday, Lorde teased something big by posting a mysterious message asking fans to “meet me at the park.” Without any specific details, loyal fans still flooded Washington Square Park, hoping to catch a glimpse of the artist. The crowd got so big that the NYPD shut it down, forcing Lorde to cancel her original appearance.

Later that night, however, Lorde returned—walking, dancing, and performing the track in the middle of the park, surrounded by flashing phone cameras and stunned onlookers. Wearing jeans and a bikini top under a white button-down, she moved through the crowd like a ghost of New York nightlife, turning the city into her stage.

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In a voice note shared shortly after the park incident, Lorde sounded stunned but thrilled:

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“Holy f***, that was insane. I cannot believe you shut down the f***ing park.”

The moment, she said, made her realize the magnitude of her fame:

“I saw this thing that said ‘does Lorde not know she’s famous?’ I think I figured it out last night.”

Originally planned for an April 25 release, Lorde pushed the track forward a day following the hype. Fans online had already started piecing together low-quality recordings into bootleg versions of the song, showing just how eager they were for her return.

The new single is Lorde’s first official release since Solar Power in 2021, and while she hasn’t confirmed a new album, she’s dropped several hints. She’s wiped her social media, posted cryptic messages, and released “What Was That” with a bold energy that feels like the start of something much bigger.

In a message to fans, Lorde described this new phase as a rebirth:

“I’ve never felt more intentional with every single piece of what I’m doing… I really think this song is the music of my rebirth.”