Balancing nuanced and abstract musical knowledge in her critically acclaimed music, renowned pop singer Lorde faces a flood of feedback in response to her most recent project.
The New Zealand-born singer-songwriter rose to global fame in 2013 with her debut single “Royals,” an anti-consumerist anthem that earned her top positions on global charts and two Grammy Awards. Her debut album Pure Heroine established her as a resonant and relatable voice of teenage disillusionment, her music displaying a masterful stylistic blend of electronic and pop made inquisitive through her introspective lyricism. Lorde’s 2017 follow-up Melodrama received critical acclaim for its emotional rawness and sonic evolution, solidifying her status as a pop innovator and returning her to spots yet again on charts globally. She returned in 2021 with Solar Power, an atypical artistic departure that embraced acoustic textures and ecological themes that strayed from her consistent electro-pop production style. For this, she was met with a polarized reception. As of now, Lorde continues to cement herself as a mainstream artistic force with her awe-inspiring new album, “Virgin”, while departing from a uniform pop scope and embracing experimental realism.
Released on June 27th, the highly anticipated “Virgin” thoughtfully shares narrative memoirs of Lorde’s journey, detailing topics such as the discovery of her identity, internal insight towards gender, family, past and romantic relationships. The album was immediately met with controversy following its release, particularly due to an image described in the media as NSFW (Not Safe For Work) included in the album’s vinyl edition. Despite the public backlash and harsh internet reactions, Lorde’s devoted fans argue that the provocative imagery ties to the album’s themes of vulnerability and identity, reinforcing her stylistic choices throughout the album and those that are embedded in the ballooning theme of “Virgin.” Still, the album was well received, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
The album features repeated usage of heavy bass and drums, balancing with electronic textures contrasted by raw reverberated vocals. The album’s ballad tracks incorporate string orchestral instruments, adding a softer and more vulnerable dimension to the sound. The album was preceded by three individually released singles: “Hammer,” “Man of the Year,” and “What Was That,” the third of which reached the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. All three of the singles embodied captivating melodies, incorporating thought-provoking lyrics about the singer’s internal struggle, particularly her battle with understanding her identity as she navigates her personal relationships and the ever-changing world around her.
Each track on “Virgin” provides unique perspectives on Lorde’s vastly, as perceived through the tracks, developing identity. The track “Shapeshifter” explores her shift between a role of childlike innocence in her personal relationships and feelings of detachment from others due to her lived experience. Another, “Favorite Daughter,” reflects her drive to make lasting positive impressions on her parents throughout her growing career, while successfully being able to embody their positive traits. A track that serves as a poetically written letter to Lorde’s fragile, child self, “If she could see me now,” expresses how her musical and individual journey has shaped her. These particular songs, as well as the rest of the enticing and introspective tracks that work alongside them, provide listeners with a cohesive view into Lorde’s journey of self-discovery and her navigation of life.
With “Virgin,” Lorde continues to challenge societal music and especially pop norms, delivering yet another body of work that is as divisive as it is artistically ambitious.
Grade: B+
