What Was That

On April 24, 2025, Lorde dropped "What Was That," a synth-pop single that immediately signaled a shift toward danceable rhythms while keeping her signature introspective edge. The track serves as the lead single for her fourth studio album, Virgin, and blends polished pop production with indie-rock credibility through a drum pattern directly inspired by Radiohead's 2007 song "Reckoner." Written by Ella Yelich-O'Connor and Jim-E Stack, who also co-produced the piece alongside Dan Nigro, the song explores the messy aftermath of a breakup intertwined with memories of MDMA consumption.

Critics and fans embraced the release instantly, with outlets like Business Insider and NYLON dissecting lyrics that reference specific venues such as Coachella and Baby's All Right to ground themes of memory in public spaces. The song debuted at number one on the New Zealand Singles Chart and secured top 20 spots in Australia, the United Kingdom, and on the Billboard Global 200. Rolling Stone later included it on their list of best tracks from 2025, cementing its status as a standout moment in her discography. [edit]