It was always going to be difficult for Lorde to top the critical acclaim of her second album, ‘Melodrama’, and while ‘Solar Power’ received generally positive reviews, the consensus was that it didn’t quite live up to expectations. Abandoning the electronic textures that defined her earlier work in favour of a lighter, stripped-back, minimal sound, the risk ultimately didn’t pay off—the result felt somewhat underwhelming, lacking the spark that first made her a star.

A standout moment came with her feature on the remix of ‘Girl, so confusing’ with Charli xcx, which brought Lorde back into the zeitgeist of the Brat era. The pair enjoyed a viral moment as they aired out past misunderstandings in a rare and refreshingly candid pop collaboration.

Now, four years on from her last album, Lorde returns to the electronic sound that captivated listeners in the first place with ‘What Was That’—the lead single from her upcoming LP. It’s an introspective track that sees her revisiting a youthful relationship through a more mature lens, coming to the realisation that the intensity she once felt may not have been as profound as it seemed. That’s a common truth: we often re-evaluate past relationships with clearer eyes. She captures that mix of longing and clarity, reminiscing about euphoric, ecstasy-fuelled intimacy, only to acknowledge the hollowness beneath it.

It’s a strong opener—one that hints at a promising return to form on her next project.