What Was That? Steven says 4/5

On Tuesday, Lorde casually summoned her loyal fans to Washington Square Park at 7:00 PM with a simple text, creating instant chaos. Even though cops shut things down just before showtime, her most dedicated stans stuck around until she finally emerged at 9:30 to preview her new track, "What Was That."

The first surprise hit me when I checked the credits, no Jack Antonoff? Instead, Dan Nigro stepped into the booth, fresh off his bangers with Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan. Honestly, I didn't see that one coming, but I'm not mad about it.

Still, after a four-year wait, "What Was That" isn't exactly the strongest single to lead a comeback. It feels more like Lorde is stretching back into her Melodrama vibes, shaking off a creative dry spell. The abrupt ending definitely hints that something bigger and wilder is coming next on the album.

I genuinely think it's fantastic, but there's this slightly awkward rhythm to some of the lyrics. The chorus has this frantic, breathless quality, chasing the beat, which I think is intentional; it matches the MDMA-fueled anxiety she's hinting at. Overall, it's intriguing enough to keep me hooked, even if it’s not quite the immediate ear-worm I hoped for.

Curious about what else Steven is into? Get updates on shelf.im/stevenmorea