Over the last year, it’s no secret that the music world is craving a new Lorde album. The last time we heard from the Queen of Alternative was in 2021, the weed and maori language themed “Solar Power”. The New Zealand songstress did go on to do a tour between Fall 2021-Spring 2022. Aside from the “Girl, so confusing” remix with Charli XCX in 2024, that was the last time we heard from her in a rollout musically until now.
Lorde is already on the move preparing to release her new album “Virgin” on June 27. Interestingly, the project is going in a different direction than anticipated. Back to the introspective nature that made her renowned, Lorde is not talking about beaches any more. If her recent singles are any indication—we’re definitely gearing towards a culmination of her past three album eras.
The recent single, “Hammer” follows this vision but it feels more raw and true to self. In the chorus she says “I might have been born again/I’m ready to feel like I don’t have answers/There’s peace in the madness over our heads”. As vague as first, it actually reinforces the concept of the record. Hammers are tools of destruction that often carry negative connotations as if you’re destroying an object. Sometimes, in order to fix a project you have to break it down. There’s a satisfaction of turning ruins into treasure and that’s definitely the theme of ramification that Lorde is going for.
The other songs that dropped, “Man Of The Year” and “What Was That” offer that similar atmospheric, reflective energy. The latter has a pumping lunchroom table-esque beat yet it has got me singing “What Was That” in my shower voice. Points that “Virgin” is shaping up to be a great album from Lorde.
Again, “Virgin” releases on June 27, 2025. Make sure you cop it this week!
