After months of speculation and cryptic hints, Lorde has officially announced her fourth studio album, Virgin, set for release on June 27, 2025.

The news sent waves through the music world — and especially through her devoted fanbase, who have been eagerly awaiting the follow-up to 2021’s Solar Power.

In an e-mail letter to fans, Lorde describes the album as: "THE COLOUR OF THE ALBUM IS CLEAR. LIKE BATHWATER, WINDOWS, ICE, SPIT. FULL TRANSPARENCY. THE LANGUAGE IS PLAIN AND UNSENTIMENTAL. THE SOUNDS ARE THE SAME WHEREVER POSSIBLE. I WAS TRYING TO SEE MYSELF, ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A DOCUMENT THAT REFLECTED MY FEMININITY: RAW, PRIMAL, INNOCENT, ELEGANT, OPENHEARTED, SPIRITUAL, MASC. I’M PROUD AND SCARED OF THIS ALBUM. THERE’S NOWHERE TO HIDE. I BELIEVE THAT PUTTING THE DEEPEST PARTS OF OURSELVES TO MUSIC IS WHAT SETS US FREE."

The cover art is already making headlines: an X-ray image of a pelvis, complete with a belt buckle and IUD, signaling that Virgin will confront womanhood, identity, and bodily autonomy with unflinching honesty. It's a daring visual statement, one that resonates deeply with fans who’ve long appreciated Lorde’s willingness to push artistic and personal boundaries.

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The album includes 11 tracks and features production and writing contributions from a tight-knit circle of collaborators, including Jim-E Stack, Blood Orange (Devonté Hynes), Fabiana Palladino, Dan Nigro (Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo), and Buddy Ross. 

Lorde recently previewed the era with the single “What Was That,” a slow-burning reflection on love, reportedly inspired by a personal breakup. Fans were treated to an impromptu song performance at Washington Square Park in New York, where Lorde showed up unannounced — until the performance was shut down due to an overwhelming crowd.

While Lorde has always kept a certain distance from the spotlight, this album marks what feels like a re-engagement with herself, her audience, and the public conversation. The accompanying merchandise line, including limited-edition vinyl, lyric tees, and cryptically labeled apparel, deepens the immersive experience she’s curating around Virgin.

For fans, the announcement of Virgin is more than just the promise of new music — it’s the return of an artist who has consistently used pop as a medium for poetry, introspection, and truth-telling. If her past work is any indication, Virgin is poised not only to challenge expectations but to define a cultural moment. The countdown to June 27 begins now.

Photo Credit: @lorde on Instagram.