Lorde Summer Is Nigh

The Lorde has risen. After weeks of teasing the first single, “What Was That,” off her upcoming album, Lorde finally gave fans a listen Tuesday night during a spontaneous gathering in Washington Square Park.

Earlier on Tuesday, the singer sent out a cryptic text blast inviting fans to “meet me in the park” at 7 p.m. She didn’t say which park, but fans got it — two weeks earlier, she’d posted a TikTok walking to a snippet of the song in Washington Square Park. By sundown, hundreds of people had gathered, and Ella gave them a little taste of our imminent Lorde summer.

As is historically the case with highly anticipated Washington Square Park gatherings, the NYPD couldn’t work it out on the remix. Just before 7 p.m., the singer posted on her Instagram Story that the police were “shutting us down” and “telling me you gotta disperse … I’m so sorry.” (A spokesperson for the NYPD said Lorde hadn’t actually gotten the green light for the event, telling the Cut “a sound and parks permit is required to have a concert in a New York City Park,” but “this individual did not possess either.”) Per the New York Times, many fans stuck it out anyway, defiantly blasting Lorde songs on a speaker and booing the cops when they tried to disperse the crowd.

Though most of the crowd eventually left the park, many stuck around, and Lorde later made her way back to the arch. Standing on a small platform surrounded by fans, the singer danced in true Lorde fashion as she played “What Was That” in its entirety. The song will also officially come out Friday, so if you’re having trouble hearing it over the din of the Lorde stans, you can listen then. Thank the Lorde.