Lorde Debuts New Single After Police Cancellation in NYC

Lorde debuted her new single 'What Was That' during a surprise pop-up event at New York's Washington Square Park, after inviting fans via a cryptic message to meet her there. The event initially faced disruption when local police and park rangers intervened due to the lack of required permits, leading Lorde to apologize to fans and ask them to disperse. Despite the shutdown, many fans remained, and later, with the help of producer Dev Hynes (Blood Orange), Lorde returned to perform the track by singing and dancing along to a speaker playback. The new single marks her first solo release since 2021 and teases her upcoming fourth album. The event showcased Lorde's continued engagement with her fanbase through unconventional means, such as text blasts and social media teasers. The pop-up generated significant excitement, with fans climbing trees and crowding the park to catch a glimpse of the singer and her latest music.