New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde, born Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor, is preparing to return with her fourth studio album. Titled Virgin, it will be released this coming summer! The new record eclipses her critically-acclaimed 2021 effort, “Solar Power.” She went on to characterize that album as “a really different taste for me.” With “Virgin,” Lorde is not just revisiting her origin story, but rediscovering who she is as an artist and regaining her musical autonomy.
Written by Smith and frequent collaborator Jimmy Napes, the album’s lead single “What Was That” first entered the UK Top 10. This is nothing short of a tremendous return for Lorde. As she explained, this track marked a turning point in her artistic journey.
“What Was That was the first song from this album that I wrote and was like, ‘OK, I know where to go with this’” – Lorde
Lorde’s new music will look to ensnare her fans all over again. She refers to this collection as her “Lorde canon.” She thinks it is… “just recognisably me,” with all of her unmistakable musicality on display that fans have grown to love through the years.
Our path to this moment has been built on partnership and transformation. Earlier this summer, Lorde did join Charli XCX on a remix of one song from Charli’s (awesome!) album “Brat.” This collaboration was an inflection point for Lorde. This sent her diving into her vulnerabilities further while writing and recording new music.
“Brat coming out really gave me a kick,” – Lorde
In an interview, Lorde discussed how working with Charli XCX revitalized her confidence. She stated that the experience pushed her to explore emotions that she might have previously shied away from in her songwriting.
“I really went into it like, ‘just make something for you, just make something you think is cool’” – Lorde
Her new book has been causing quite a stir in the political world. In fact, one of her tracks—“Fight Song”—served an improbable and outsized role in the campaign for the US presidential election. This heightened visibility reflects the cultural impact of her music, particularly following the success of “Brat,” which has become a cultural phenomenon since its release.
Just last year, her trail was named Word of Year by the Collins Dictionary. This prestigious honor deepens the recognition of Lorde’s powerful and transformative impact on the music and cultural landscape today.
Now at an age of only 15, Lorde started creating songs aimed at just making herself and a few others excited. Now, twelve years into her career she sees all of the progress that she’s made.
“It’s funny to be 12 years into your career and for people to have an understanding of your tropes and what you do,” – Lorde
That album, “Solar Power,” was a confident swerve from her yacht rock fantasy first emerged in “Liability.” This alteration ignited a period of profound introspection on her developing artistic path. She referred to it as an experiment in weaving together various motifs and feelings. She acknowledged that she had long turned a blind eye to these realities in her life.
“It was just sort of an exercise in saying everything I needed to say about a whole lot of different stuff and I put off dealing with that,” – Lorde
With excitement brewing for “Virgin,” we’re all on the edge of our seats at what Lorde will show us next. With a new lease on life, she’s determined to welcome her artistic spirit. On her long-awaited new album, Iridian, she’s now poised to reach long-time fans and new listeners alike.
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