Lorde just pulled off a classic Lorde move: quietly dropping a final single, then casually debuting her entire new album with a surprise party in Brooklyn. With her fourth studio album Virgin set to drop this Friday, she’s making sure we feel every moment leading up to it.
Last Friday, Lorde released “Hammer,” the opening track from Virgin and her final single before the full album arrives. Co-produced by Lorde and Jim-E Stack, “Hammer” is sleek, sharp, and emotionally charged. It’s an instant tone-setter, ushering in a more expansive, confident era. If “Man of the Year” was the breakout anthem, “Hammer” is the warning shot: she’s not holding back.
Then, just a few nights later (as in, last night), Lorde gave New York fans an unforgettable gift: a surprise album debut party at Baby’s All Right in Williamsburg. The venue, name-checked in her recent track “What Was That,” was packed with fans as she lip-synced and danced along to Virgin in full, streaming the whole thing live on TikTok. And in a moment that had the entire room in their feelings, she closed the night by playing “Ribs” from her debut album Pure Heroine — a nostalgic nod that hit just as hard as it did a decade ago.
Lorde’s bond with New York feels stronger than ever — she’s been seen dancing in Washington Square Park, crafted much of Virgin at the legendary Electric Lady Studios, and just gave Brooklyn the very first listen. Meanwhile, the video for “Hammer,” directed by Renell Medrano and shot in London, is already turning heads with its haunting visuals and dreamy, gritty edge.
With Virgin officially arriving this Friday, Lorde has made one thing clear: she’s throwing the kind of party only she could host — raw, radiant, and on her own terms.
