Tuesday night in Washington Square Park, hundreds of NYU students scrambled up trash cans, trees, and lampposts for a glimpse of Lorde—our very own “prettier Jesus.” Before her surprise performance of “What Was That” could begin, park rangers and cops moved in to disperse the crowd, proof that Lorde still commands a frenzy no one else can match.
Her first original single in four years, “What Was That” is a powerful follow-up to Melodrama. Trading Solar Power’s carefree folk for a sleek, synth-driven pulse, Lorde wrestles with the messianic burden of fame—“Since I was 17, I gave you everything”—and asks why those wildest moments slip away. Producers Jim-E Stack and Dan Nigro strip the track down to its emotional core, letting Lorde’s razor-sharp lyrics and haunting melodies take center stage. It may not hit like a euphoric second wave, but her voice is as magnetic as ever—proof that even when the high fades, Lorde’s artistry only grows stronger.