Lorde is back. The New Zealand pop visionary just released her first new music in four years, and it was worth the wait.

Her latest single, What Was That, has officially dropped and signals the beginning of a new era. Just as she did with Melodrama, Lorde uses ravey hooks and hypnotic beats to process heartbreak — but this time, she’s not trying to escape the past. She’s letting it linger.

What Was That leans into the ghosts, the memories, and the emotional aftershocks, while still finding light in the darkness.

Written and produced by Lorde and Jim-E Stack, with production contributions from Dan Nigro, the track blends euphoric electronic textures with deeply personal lyrics. It’s upbeat, yet vulnerable — the kind of dance-through-the-tears anthem only Lorde could deliver.

In a raw and poetic note posted to her website, Lorde shared the emotional chaos that surrounded the song’s creation:

That rebirth can be felt in every beat of What Was That. Rather than turning away from heartbreak, Lorde turns toward it — and dances in its glow.

The accompanying music video, released alongside the single, features Lorde riding a bike around New York City before arriving in Washington Square Park to meet a sea of fans. The April 22nd gathering was wild to say the least.

With What Was That, Lorde reminds us why she remains one of pop’s most honest voices — able to turn pain into euphoria and grief into glitter.