April 22nd, 2025, the fans of Lorde were taken by surprise in a way they never expected when, with just a few hours of notice, the singer invited them to the meeting with her in Washington Square Park in New York City. The internet was abuzz and a new song was introduced.
A Surprise Text That Started It All
At the time of the day close to sunset, text subscribers to Lorde’s line received the following message:
“Meet me in the park Tonight 7pm – x x.”
So many folks turned up. A few of them were convinced it was a joke. Then Lorde made her big entrance. She just stood quietly at the fountain, embraced her fans, and then got ready to present a song that nobody had ever heard of.
The crowd got larger and larger. Within a few minutes, rangers and NYPD showed up to disperse the crowd. With no permit and increasing safety concerns, the event was forced to come to an end.
Lorde, Paloma, and her UK band members Zoe Moss and Natalie Hammond playing music were also there.
Lorde Returns After Crowd Disperses
That very same night, holding her new song “What Was That,” on her phone, in her hand, she brought a speaker and a small wooden stage. Lorde played the song and sang it along with a much smaller and calmer group of people.
A feeling prevalent in the air was that of really being close to the event. It was lacking stage and lights, just Lorde, a stereo, and a song about looking back.
“What Was That” – – The Lyrics Fans Can’t Stop Analyzing
If the title is to be believed, this is Lorde’s first original single since “Solar Power,” her 2021 album. “What Was That” is described as not heavily produced but with a large emotional impact, according to Jim-E Stack, the producer and Daniel Nigro’s (Olivia Rodrigo’s workmate) bandmate.
Naturally, when I was 17, Lorde is singing, “I’ve given you everything / Now that we are waking up from a dream / Well, baby, what was that?”
The lines, like “I’m missing you / And all the things we used to do,” are another example of how little we can be in despair and perplexity after our emotional growth and revisiting of the past love.
A lot of people online are saying that this is the most relatable song for her since Melodrama.
Music Video Captures the Real Moment
Right after the concert, Lorde became the woman behind “What Was That.” The video extends shots taken from the performance in the park combined with shots of Lorde wandering the streets of New York City. It is almost like off-the-cuff, unadulterated, and violent – just the way it happened then. This is also true of a moment she created herself.
The video has already claimed the No.1 spot on YouTube’s trending charts, and fans are appreciating its simple and minimal look.
Is a New Album Coming?
So far, Lorde hasn’t given any news on her fourth studio album’s title or release date. “What Was That” is, however, going to be her new CD’s leading single.
In addition to her recent appearance at Coachella with Charli XCX, they sang their remix of “Girl, So Confusing.com.” That spot on the festival was a real happening and now, this surprising single released just the other day has been pouring oil on the fire of the fans’ screams for Game of Thrones news.
Social Media Reaction
From the very start of the song in the park, it did not take long for clips to be tweeted and the song to be tuned to X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram. The hashtag #WhatWasThatLorde was 24/7 on the trend list.
Some people wrote, “This is the reason why I love her. No PR gimmicks. Just art, honesty, and a speaker in the park.”
Some expressed their feelings about being there in the room where the performance took place that it made them understand once again why they initially loved Lorde’s music.
Lorde has always been able to find a way to touch her fanbase. However, this time- a quick live concert, an intimate song, and an emotional expression reset- seems to be an emotionally empowering act stage not only for the singer but also for her audience.
By singing “What Was That,” not only is she promoting a new album but she is also letting the world know why her voice is a great one.
