Three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Lorde has made her triumphant return with the release of her brand-new single, What Was That available now worldwide through Universal Music Group. After months of cryptic teasers and social media blackouts, What Was That marks the beginning of a daring new phase for the New Zealand-born artist, celebrated globally for her visionary pop sensibilities and emotional depth.
Lorde
Produced by Lorde, Jim-E Stack and Dan Nigro, the track sees Lorde stepping into a dreamier, more experimental sonic landscape — blending ambient electronica, sharp percussion, and hypnotic vocals to explore the blurred edges of memory, transformation, and emotional awakening.
Lorde @ Glastonbury
“‘What Was That’ is about the invisible moments that stay with you — those flashes that leave a dent in your spirit,” says Lorde. “I wanted to capture that strange, bittersweet electricity you feel when everything changes in an instant, even if you don’t realize it yet.”
Lorde
Musically, the track features a minimalist beat that slowly builds into a soaring chorus, layered with lush synths, subtle acoustic textures, and a signature vulnerability that only Lorde can deliver. It’s a song both intimate and vast, inviting listeners to get lost in its atmospheric haze while anchoring them with lyrics that cut straight to the heart.
The accompanying music video was shot on location in New York, including Washington Square Park, where Lorde surprised fans with a pop-up performance earlier this week. Check it out below:
Already hailed by early critics as “spellbinding” and “Lorde’s most fearless work yet,” What Was That is set to cement her place once again at the forefront of modern pop — blending innovation, storytelling, and raw emotion in a way only she can.
Share Thing