Lorde at the Pre-GRAMMY Gala, 2017. (Getty)
Fans of New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde have been waiting for a followup to her debut album, Pure Heroine, since its September 2013 release date. It looks like 2017 marks the end of that waiting period, and now we’re just anticipating the new album’s title, release date, sound, singles and more. Lorde, whose real name is Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor, excited the music world by taking to Twitter this past summer to reveal she started working on her new record. Check out this post right here:
Since this update, the “Royals” singer has periodically shared news about her upcoming work, but a 2017 release date is expected. So, here are five fast facts about Lorde’s upcoming new album that you need to know.
1. A Recent Twitter Rant Might Hint at Her New Album’s Sound
https://www.instagram.com/p/BM2j5LygBje/?taken-by=lordemusic&hl=en
While listening to the recent album, SweetSexySavage, by American singer Kehlani, Lorde felt inspired to take to Twitter and rave about the music. In her this Twitter rants, she shared her thoughts on the sound, feel and other aspects of the record. Eventually, she revealed that her own songwriting on the upcoming record reflect similar themes.
You can check out Lorde’s slew of Twitter posts concerning her musical inspirations right here:
This collection of tweets led Bustle to believe that her new album could be political, too. What do you take away from these Twitter posts?
Lorde’s social media accounts are great for the artist to share her thoughts with her audience. They are also great outlets to let them know when she’s going to be performing. For instance, she’s headed to Niigata, Japan this month for the 2017 Fuji Rock Festival. Here is a promotional video that she retweeted:
1st line up!! #fujirock #フジロック t.co/af0tOZOGlr
2. Her New Songs are About Her Meteoric Rise to Fame, & Might Get Political
https://www.instagram.com/p/BP6o4rNFn-z/?taken-by=lordemusic&hl=en
Speaking of lengthy social media posts, Lorde revealed more details of the new album around 4 months ago on Facebook. In a message shared with her followers, the singer explained the overall theme of the new collection of songs, without giving too much away. It might not be surprising after we’ve all watched her meteoric rise to fame, but her new material is about her newfound celebrity, the anxiety that comes along with it. Her Facebook post was published a day before her 20th birthday, November 7, which Lorde describes as a milestone that will certainly be part of her record.
In this message to her fans, Lorde admitted that she was very excited to share everything about the new album, but that she simply couldn’t, according to USA Today. She even called her lyrics the “best I’ve written in my life.”
“I can hardly stop myself from typing out the name. I just need to keep working a while longer to make it as good as it can be,” she told her fans towards the end of the post. You can read the entire Facebook post right here:
3. Industry Insiders Have Already Heard the New Album & Love It
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQCVXpGljYt/?taken-by=lordemusic&hl=en
Earlier this month, Lorde shared some of her new music with the music industry’s major insiders, and those that got to hear the album are impressed. According to Spy News of New Zealand, the new tunes were premiered at an official listening party in Los Angeles.
Here is one reaction from Billboard music editor Jason Lipshutz, who was lucky enough to hear the album early:
Oh my Lorde
These positive reactions from the industry should have fans excited for the upcoming 2017 release date.
Around the same time of this alleged industry insider listening party, Lorde shot a music video. This news was confirmed by the Twitter account, “Lorde Fix,” on February 10. You can check out more details on that here:
Also present at the LA night shoot were Ella’s long-term makeup artist Amber D, freq hairdresser Jen Atkin, & producer Saul Germaine
4. Republic Records Might’ve Leaked the Album’s Release Date
https://twitter.com/LordeDaily/status/832199200997785601/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
According to the above image, March 7 is an important day in 2017 for Lorde fans. This image comes from Republic Records‘ website, pointing out talking points for a company meeting, according to the Independent. The meeting was held on February 21, 2017.
While it is unlikely that the full album will be released in a manner of weeks from now, odds are that we’re going to hear Lorde’s first new single on March 7. Her most recent single was the collaboration with Disclosure, “Magnets,” for the electronic music duo’s 2015 album, Caracal. Her most recent solo single was the song, “Yellow Flicker Beat,” for the soundtrack to The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1.
Whatever the album’s title and release date happen to be, this is one of the most anticipated records of the year. Here are some Twitter reactions to Lorde’s new album coming out soon:
Waiting for Lorde’s new album like
I am living for Lorde’s new album she is a queen
5. She Recently Got a New Haircut
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQewcaIgAab/?taken-by=lordemusic&hl=en
While these other facts are weeks or even months old, just this week (of February 20, 2017), the songwriter got a new haircut. A new look for a new album, perhaps? Well, that’s what plenty of pop music websites are claiming, and they are most likely right, too. Taking into consideration the March 7 date mentioned above, a short haircut so close to a teased date shouldn’t be viewed as a coincidence. This is pop music we’re talking about, after all.
Celebrity hairstylist Jenna Atkin turned Lorde’s long, curly brown locks into a “lob,” or “long bob.” It’s a shorter hairstyle that might look familiar to our audience, because Atkin recently gave model Kendall Jenner the same haircut. Take a look at Jenner‘s new hairdo right here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQUNRvLAEWP/
Atkin shared the a photo of Lorde’s new haircut on Instagram, which the singer also reposted to her own account, as you can see above. The hairstylist’s “lob” cut on Lorde could mean she’s preparing for her release with an updated look, or it could just mean she wanted the stylish haircut.
Make sure to check back for more updates on Lorde’s new album.