Lorde has been teasing her third studio album for literally years now, so it’s understandable that a large portion of fans would meet any fresh rumours with a healthy dose of skepticism. Given that the musician is confirmed for a headline slot at Primavera 2022, however, there’s a good chance that there’s truth to recent speculation that the record is finally on the way.
Postponed in 2020 and 2021, due to coronavirus, the Barcelona festival is set to return across two weekends in June next year, with Lorde scheduled to play the second weekend (June 9 to June 11) alongside the likes of Gorillaz, Dua Lipa, Tyler, the Creator, and Megan Thee Stallion.
More importantly, fans have taken the festival slot to mean that new music is imminent, taking to social media to share their theories and rumours. These include a statement on Primavera Sound’s website hinting that Lorde “will emerge from her retirement with her third album” (though the statement has since been amended, and now makes no direct mention of new material).
This frenzied chatter only adds fuel to existing rumours about a follow-up to 2017’s sublime Melodrama. Earlier this month, for example, a so-called “reliable insider” posted on the pop message board ATRL.net, saying that the new album is “done”.
Hinting at further details, they add: “12 tracks + 2 bonus tracks, no ‘bops’. New age hippie stoner album. Get your weed or acid ready.” However, since the poster is anonymous, it’s pretty much impossible to verify the claims.
There has also been a surprise newsletter from Lorde, released in 2020 during coronavirus lockdown. In it, she explained that she was in the studio with previous collaborator Jack Antonoff, before everything shut down. “The work is so fucking good, my friend,” she added. “I am truly jazzed for you to hear it.”
Of course, there’s still a lengthy wait until June 2022 (and, as we’ve realised over the last year, absolutely anything could happen between now and then) so don’t expect any definitive updates just yet. If you’re feeling particularly starved, you can always flick back through her onion ring reviews, which made an official “crumb back” late last year.