Lorde says new album Virgin is inspired by her “gender broadening”

Lorde has opened up about the creative journey of her fourth studio album, ‘Virgin’, revealing that a “reexamination of her gender expression” was instrumental in its creation.

In a conversation with artist Martine Syms for Document Journal, the New Zealand singer expressed she has recently “embraced her masculinity more,” noting that her new album is a “byproduct” of “fully inhabiting my body and realising the extent of my power.”

Reflecting on her guest performance with Charli XCX at Coachella, Syms commented that they seemed like “two really strong, powerful individuals who are also both attractive and talented, enjoying themselves in a way that likely wasn’t feasible 20 years ago.”

Lorde attributed this to advances in the music industry and popular culture, “where being human or being yourself is more valued.”

According to ‘Gay Times’, prior to creating ‘Virgin’, Lorde mentioned she “read numerous queer writers,” and noted that the album began to come together after writing the lead single, ‘What Was That,’ which she described as a “rebirth” of her artistry.

“I returned from London to New York after a period of personal upheaval,” Lorde explained. “Becoming single and confronting my body issues directly, I began to feel my gender expanding slightly.

“Being back home, I felt an overwhelming wave of grief. I constantly thought, What was all of that? Whether it was my long-term relationship, the pandemic, or dedicating my body to my career since my teens.

“This sensation of, Wow, so much has moved through me. There's so much mystery and pain. I simply held the microphone, wandered around the room, and spoke my mind. I didn’t write anything down, which felt liberating.”

In an email to fans revealing the title and cover of ‘Virgin’—which features a blue-toned X-ray of a pelvis with an IUD visible—Lorde described the album as a reflection of her femininity, including terms like “masc” to characterise it.

“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,” she noted.

“I WAS TRYING TO SEE MYSELF, ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I WAS TRYING TO CREATE A DOCUMENT THAT REFLECTED MY FEMININITY: RAW, PRIMAL, INNOCENT, ELEGANT, OPENHEARTED, SPIRITUAL, MASC.”

Set for release on June 27, ‘Virgin’ is Lorde’s first full-length project since ‘Solar Polar’ (2021), which featured singles like the title track, ‘Stoned at the Nail Salon’, ‘Fallen Fruit’, and ‘Mood Ring’.

The aforementioned lead single ‘What Was That’ received widespread acclaim from fans and critics, debuting at number one in her home country. Additionally, the electropop hit became her first US Spotify chart-topper since her 2011 debut single ‘Royals’.

You can read Lorde’s complete interview with Martine Syms for Document Journal and watch the ‘What Was That’ music video here.