Lorde, a New Zealand sensation, has released her first original solo music since Solar Power.

Lorde has released her first original solo single, “What Was That“, since her 2021 album Solar Power. The single was teased with a series of mysterious social media postings, voice notes, and audio samples, while Talia Chetrit created the cover art. Watch the new song’s video below.

“What Was That” had its live premiere on Tuesday in New York’s Washington Square Park, where Lorde sang along to the song while it was played on a small speaker.

Hours earlier, the New Zealand pop artist sent a mass message via her fan text line announcing her appearance: ‘Meet me at the park tonight at 7pm – x x.’. The gathering was swiftly shut down by local police and park rangers owing to an excessive crowd size. The new video features footage from the event.

Lorde co-wrote and produced “What Was That” with Jim-E Stack and Daniel Nigro. Jim-E Stack additionally supplied drums, keyboards, piano, synthesiser, and engineering, while Nigro added bass and electric guitar, piano, synthesiser, and engineering. Andrew Aged, from Inc. No World, is another famous electric guitarist on the tune.

Solar Power, Lorde’s highly anticipated follow-up to her 2018 album Melodrama, featured the songs “Solar Power”, “Stoned at the Nail Salon”, and “Mood Ring”. The bulk of the tracks on the album ultimately earned music videos, including “Fallen Fruit”, “Leader of a New Regime”, “Secrets From a Girl (Who’s Seen It All)”, “The Path”, and “Oceanic Feeling”.

Lorde remained silent for the following several years, only appearing to join Muna onstage at New York’s Terminal 5 in 2023 and contributing a rendition of “Take Me to the River” to A24’s Talking Heads tribute album in 2024.

Then, last summer, Charli XCX asked her to remix the Brat single “Girl, So Confusing”, thereby identifying her as the song’s original topic. They’ve subsequently played “Girl, So Confusing Featuring Lorde” during Charli XCX’s Madison Square Garden show and, earlier this month, her Coachella festival act.

Lorde “What Was That” Lyrics

A place in the city, a chair and a bed
I cover up all the mirrors, I can’t see myself yet
I wear smoke like a wedding veil
Make a meal I won’t eat
Step out into the street, alone in a sea
It comes over me
Oh, I’m missing you
Yeah, I’m missing you
And all the things we used to do

[Chorus]
MDMA in the back garden, blow our pupils up
We kissed for hours straight, well, baby, what was that?
I remember saying then, “This is the best cigarette of my life”
Well, I want you just like that
Indio haze, we’re in a sandstorm, and it knocks me out
I didn’t know then that you’d never be enough for—
Since l was seventeen, I gave you everything
Now, we wake from a dream
Well, baby, what was that?

[Post-Chorus]
What was that?
Baby, what was that?
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[Verse 2]
Do you know you’re still with me, when I’m out with my friends?
I stare at the painted faces that talk current affairs
You had to know this was happening, you weren’t feeling my heat
When I’m in the blue light, down at Baby’s All Right
I face reality
I tried (I tried) to let (To let)
Whatever has to pass through me, pass through
But this is staying a while, I know
It might not let me go

[Chorus]
MDMA in the back garden, blow our pupils up
We kissed for hours straight, well, baby, what was that?
I remember saying then, “This is the best cigarette of my life”
Well, I want you just like that
Indio haze, we’re in a sandstorm, and it knocks me out
I didn’t know then, but you’d never be enough for—
Since l was seventeen, I gave you everything
Now, we wake from a dream
Well, baby, what was that?

[Post-Chorus]
What was that?
‘Cause I want you just like that
(When I’m in the blue light, I can make it alright)
What was that?
(When I’m in the blue light, I can make it alright)
Baby, what was that?