Photo credit: @lorde
Get ready because Lorde’s third studio album, Solar Power, is coming out tomorrow! We have already had a glimpse at what to expect from the New Zealand singer, from her singles ‘Solar Power’, ‘Stoned at the Nail Salon’, and ‘Mood Ring’. So far, her singles have been whimsical, dream-like and imbued with clever, reflective lyricism. She has managed to create a romanticised, whirlwind world of nature, emotions, and love through her tracks and music videos.
Photo Credits: Lorde
In Lorde’s romantic newsletter to fans, she introduced the album, saying ‘she’s sexy, playful, feral, and free.’ The vibrant cover art, showing Lorde leaping over the camera in front of a bright blue, sunlit day, matches the playful freedom expected from the songs.
‘Solar Power’ offered a more playful, lighter sound, compared to some of her more poignant tracks, like ‘Liability’ from Melodrama or the era-defining ‘Ribs’ from Pure Heroine. Lyrics such as ‘I’m kind of like a prettier Jesus’ provides a fun and flirty energy to the track. She also suggests a return to nature and a loss of digital connections, asserting ‘Can you reach me? No, you can’t’.
‘Stoned at the Nail Salon’ takes the listener on a reflective journey. It returns to the complex lyricism we know from Lorde – blissful nostalgia mixed with the tragedy of previous albums. The acoustic ambience gives the song a sense of stark honesty and reflection. We can expect the album to include the contemplative truth that comes from Lorde’s stripped-back ballads.
‘Mood Ring’ explores meditation, sun salutations, and crystals. Lorde explains the track as a satirical comment on the ‘wellness’ trend and emerging industry, her newsletter provides further information on the effects white women adopting wellness practices can have for indigenous peoples. Inspired by her 2019 trip to Antarctica, the album’s environmental references are everpresent from its title to music videos of lush earth tones and her more sustainable approach in producing a CD-less album.
Tomorrow Lorde’s romantic world of divine lyricism and visuals of nature will be completed with the release of her new album, Solar Power – this moment is something you do not want to miss!
Words by Caitlin Sahin
