Lorde is back — stripped down, unfiltered, and more self-aware than ever. With her latest single Hammer, the New Zealand star cracks open the door to her upcoming album Virgin, and it’s clear: she’s holding nothing back.
Serving as the opening track of the album and the final teaser before its official release, Hammer is described by Lorde as “an anthem for city life and desire — without filters.” That’s no understatement. The track pulses with raw energy, hitting hard and fast, like a sudden urge you didn’t see coming.
Alongside the release, she posted a moody bathroom mirror selfie on Instagram, her reflection splintered endlessly across the glass. It’s the kind of visual that perfectly captures the essence of her music — introspective, transparent, and deeply personal.
The single follows two previous releases, What Was That and Man of the Year. The former dropped with a DIY-style video shot with fans in New York City, while the latter took a more introspective turn, diving headfirst into themes of gender identity and inner reckoning, with Lorde holding nothing back.
And just days ago, she surprised fans with an impromptu appearance in a London parking lot — no stage, no lights, just energy and presence. That’s Lorde at her core: raw, real, and magnetic.
She’s never been one to shy away from tough conversations, either. Whether it’s about relationships, body image, freedom, or navigating eating disorders in the public eye, she speaks with disarming honesty. And with Virgin, due out June 27 via Republic Records, she seems ready to bare more than ever before.
The album was crafted with an impressive roster of collaborators — Jim-E Stack, Fabiana Palladino, Andrew Aged, Buddy Ross, Dan Nigro, and Dev Hynes (aka Blood Orange). According to Lorde, the "color" of the album is transparent: “like water, or an ice cube. I wanted to really see myself — as a woman, raw and uncovered.”
So the question remains: will Hammer be the defining soundtrack of Lorde’s most authentic summer yet? Or is it simply her next big hit? Either way, she’s left us eager for what’s to come.