The long-awaited fourth LP arrives June 27 and promises full transparency—literally and figuratively.
The New Zealand pop visionary has officially announced her fourth studio album, Virgin, arriving June 27, 2025. Sharing the news via her website on April 30, the artist described the project as “100% WRITTEN IN BLOOD,” a phrase that sets the tone for what promises to be her most personal and provocative work to date.
A Bold New Era for Lorde
Lorde has only released three albums across her career, each marking a distinctive chapter in her evolution. But Virgin, her first album in four years, seems poised to break entirely new ground.
The album cover—her first since Pure Heroine (2013) not to feature her face—shows what appears to be a blue-toned X-ray of a pelvis, with a visible IUD and a zipper across the front. It’s a symbolic and intimate image, hinting at themes of femininity, vulnerability, and bodily autonomy.
What We Know About the Sound of Virgin
In a statement shared alongside the announcement, Lorde wrote in all caps:
“THE COLOUR OF THE ALBUM IS CLEAR. LIKE BATHWATER, WINDOWS, ICE, SPIT. FULL TRANSPARENCY.”
The 27-year-old describes the album’s language as “plain and unsentimental” and says the sounds are minimal, used sparingly and consistently to reflect the emotional content. She set out to create what she calls “a document that reflected my femininity: raw, primal, innocent, elegant, openhearted, spiritual, masc.”
The collaborators on Virgin include Jim-E Stack, Fabiana Palladino, Andrew Aged, Buddy Ross, Dan Nigro, and Dev Hynes (aka Blood Orange), signaling a blend of experimental pop, ambient textures, and emotional clarity.
A Personal Journey With Nowhere to Hide
Lorde didn’t shy away from describing the emotional intensity behind Virgin.
“I’M PROUD AND SCARED OF THIS ALBUM,” she wrote. “THERE’S NOWHERE TO HIDE. I BELIEVE THAT PUTTING THE DEEPEST PARTS OF OURSELVES TO MUSIC IS WHAT SETS US FREE.”
That vulnerability already surfaced in Virgin’s lead single, “What Was That,” which arrived April 24 with a moody, documentary-style video filmed in New York City. The video shows Lorde walking through Washington Square Park, interacting with fans in unscripted moments that match the album’s confessional tone.
Four Years Since Solar Power
Virgin will be Lorde’s first full-length project since 2021’s Solar Power, a polarizing album that reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and explored sun-soaked serenity and disillusionment with fame. But where Solar Power was breezy and contemplative, Virgin promises clarity through confrontation.
Lorde’s fan base—known for its deep emotional connection to her lyrics—is already buzzing about the direction of Virgin, calling it a return to emotional directness, but with a matured, fearless edge.
June Can’t Come Soon EnoughWith its visceral artwork, evocative descriptions, and emotionally raw first single, Virgin is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated albums of 2025. And if Lorde’s words are anything to go by, it’s going to be an unfiltered, transformative experience—for her and for listeners.
