Lorde Unveils New Hit “What Was That” in Washington Square: See the Live Debut!

On the evening of April 22, Lorde gave fans a first listen to her new single “What Was That” in Washington Square Park, New York. She performed from a wooden platform located in the middle of the park’s inactive fountain, with the track playing through a simple set of speakers. Footage of the event was shared online, and a clip can be viewed on X.

Earlier in the day, Lorde had hinted at the surprise event through a message sent to her fan text line, stating, “Meet me in the park Tonight 7pm – x x.” At the designated time of 7 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, she updated her Instagram story to let people know that the gathering had been dispersed by park rangers and local police authorities. Her post expressed her astonishment at the turnout: “I am truly Amazed by how many of you showed up !!!” However, she regretfully added, “But they’re telling me you gotta disperse … I’m so sorry.”

Despite the initial disruption, many attendees lingered in the area for about an hour until Devonté Hynes of Blood Orange, who is rumored to be involved in Lorde’s upcoming album, showed up. He brought a portable speaker that played “What Was That” and led the crowd out of the park. Lorde appeared after 9 p.m., taking a moment to express her gratitude to the fans before performing her song. The newly unveiled lyrics of the song include: “I’m missing you/And all the things we used to do/MDMA in the back garden, blow our pupils up/We kissed for hours straight but baby, what was that?/I remember saying then/This is the best cigarette of my life/Well I want you just like that.”

Lorde initially previewed “What Was That” through a TikTok video where she was seen walking around Washington Square Park. Recently, she has also been featured in Charli XCX’s Coachella set during the first weekend and worked with New Zealand singer-songwriter Marlon Williams. Her most recent album, released in 2021, is titled Solar Power.

Additionally, Lorde and Charli XCX’s collaboration “Girl, So Confusing Featuring Lorde” ranked No. 9 in “The 100 Best Songs of 2024.”