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In 2013, she burst onto the scene: a teenager with an astonishing voice and an extraordinary instinct for storytelling, minimalist arrangements, and grand pop moments. Lorde became the epitome of a new kind of pop star—young, idiosyncratic, and uncompromising. Artists like Charli XCX and Caroline Polachek continue in this vein; Lorde has already collaborated with both.

From the very beginning, Lorde wrote her own songs, setting new standards. Her Grammy-winning breakout hit “Royals” changed pop music, and “Melodrama”—an album that channels youthful chaos in a wholly unique way—remains a milestone to this day. Lorde’s talent, her intentional step back from the limelight, and her clear artistic vision make her one of the most influential voices of her generation.

In 2025, Lorde returned—with a feature on indie hero Blood Orange’s long-awaited new LP, her own new album “Virgin”, and her groundbreaking “Ultrasound” tour. In “What Was That”, the single announcing her new album, she sings: “Since I was seventeen, I gave you everything. Now we wake from a dream, well, baby, what was that?”

We don’t know what it was. But we are endlessly grateful that Lorde shares it with us—and that she will be performing at Gurtenfestival 2026.