Lorde’s New Comeback

by Sadie Goldberg ★ October 19th, 2025

Photo Credits: Avery Bridgett

If you ever listened to the song “Ribs” windows down at full blast and wondered when you’d have it all figured out, you’re not alone. Lorde has always understood the awkward parts of growing up as a girl in today's society. With her new studio album Virgin, she’s back to show that change is a concept that should be celebrated and feel empowering as it is an inevitable part of life

Ella Yelich-O’Connor (aka Lorde) redefined the pop-scene. At 16, she gave us Royals, a minimalist anthem that made us question everything about fame and femininity. Then came Pure Heroine, Melodrama, and Solar Power – each album  a mood board for a different phase of girlhood. After releasing Solar Power in 2021, Lorde took a pause. A breakup, a severe eating disorder and a creative block left her wondering if she’d ever make music again. She turned to MDMA therapy, explored her gender identity, and slowly, painfully, found her way back to herself.

Released on June 27, 2025, Virgin is Lorde’s first full-length album in four years, and it’s unlike anything she’s done before. The cover art features a blue-tinted X-ray of a pelvis with a zipper and an IUD, showcasing  how she’s not here to be agreeable, but transparent and honest. Lorde announced the album on Jake Shane’s podcast Therapuss, where she opened up about her creative rebirth and emotional healing. The official release was teased via Instagram and her website, where she dropped the cover art and release date like a mic. 

The album’s lyrics depict Lorde’s development into a strong and independent woman, disproving the common notion that women have to be “pure” and “clean.” In “If She Could See Me Now,” Lorde sounds like she’s speaking to the version of herself who once found comfort in “Ribs” and didn’t believe wholeness was possible. Lorde’s always been an emotional translator to our generation. She doesn’t just write songs, she turns raw generational trauma  into relatable lyrics. Whether you’re navigating heartbreak, identity shifts or just trying to survive midterms, her music feels like a mirror.

On Therapuss, she talked about how she almost quit music entirely. Instead of disappearing, she gave us Virgin, a vulnerable  diary of what it means to fall apart and rebuild. Virgin isn’t just an album, it’s a reminder that it’s okay to not have it all figured out. Lorde doesn’t pretend to have it all together, and neither should you.

Edited by: Juliet Seith & Remi Turner