By Anna Geisler, Staff Writer
On the cusp of her fourth studio project, Lorde teased her new album Virgin with the release of her angsty, synth-pop single “What Was That.” Initially hinted at on TikTok in early April marking her first studio release since Solar Power, the New Zealand native brought New York City fans together for a jam session in Washington Square Park. The events that followed thus set the narrative for a while project chocked full of collective nirvana, heartbreak, and idolatry.
A Recollection of the Past
Since its release, many fans and critics alike have drawn major comparisons between the single and Lorde’s sophomore album, Melodrama. Similar in both theme and sonic inspirations of youth, it’s not hard to see how far the indie darling has come in her career thus far. From a review in NME, music critic Rhian Daly proclaimed with positive acclaim, “[Lorde] is back dancing in the dark and on emotional, electric form.”
Although a recollection of a breakup, “What Was That” is nevertheless a reflection on the artist’s past self. Specifically in the bellowing chorus, lyrics like “Since I was seventeen, I gave you everything // Now we wake from a dream, well, baby, what was that?” Lorde is aware of her interdependent identity in relation to her estranged partner. Her debut album Pure Heroine was released when she was only 16 years old, sending her into a whirlwind of fame that she’s just starting to manage in a way that serves her own health and art.
The Power of Heartbreak
Perhaps not in discussion of an individual, but rather the entertainment industry at large, Lorde is aware that heartbreak isn’t just pigeonholed into romance but is, rather, a broader emotion of betrayal or separation. To be a public artist, one's personal life is often a reflection of image and the connection one holds with spectators. Always known for raw lyricism and emotion, the artist is learning to communion her well-earned fame with her own growth from her teenage self. The boundaries set to protect herself are not only for her benefit, but that of those who love and appreciate her never ending storytelling session.
As the two-time Grammy award winning artist embarks on her next big genre-takeover, she is refusing to give up the essence of youthfulness and naïveté — rather transforming it to fit her immensely wisened worldview.
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