Lorde Releases Fourth Album Virgin After Four Years

New Zealand pop star Lorde has released her highly anticipated fourth studio album, Virgin, marking her first album in four years and a departure from her previous work with longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff. The 11-track album features singles like "What Was That," "Man of the Year," and "Hammer," and explores themes of femininity, desire, heartbreak, gender identity, and body image with a raw, physical, and sometimes grotesque lyrical style. Produced primarily with Jim-E Stack, along with contributions from Dev Hynes and Dan Nigro, Virgin reflects Lorde's personal growth during a transformative period of recovery from an eating disorder and the end of a long-term relationship. The album's sound combines arena-pop anthems with layered synths, strings, and choral harmonies, capturing a sense of rebirth and self-discovery. Lorde will support Virgin with the Ultrasound World Tour this fall, which has seen strong demand with multiple added dates. Overall, Virgin is being praised for its fresh yet familiar sound and its candid, mature exploration of complex emotional and gender themes.