Everything Music. Everything News. Everything live.

Lorde Reveals Next Single, a Song About Embracing Gender Identity

Lorde Glastonbury Festival, Day 5, UK - 26 Jun 2022
Photo by Shutterstock (13007258bz)

Lorde, the globally renowned New Zealand singer-songwriter, has recently announced the forthcoming release of her latest single, “Man of the Year,” from her eagerly anticipated album Virgin. The announcement has not only excited fans worldwide but has also sparked significant discussions regarding Lorde's introspective exploration of her gender identity, a theme central to her new music. Slated for release next week, this single follows her April track, “What Was That,” and continues her trend of introspectively diving into personal evolution, both musically and personally.

The song “Man of the Year” is deeply personal, with Lorde contending that it is “an offering from really deep inside me.” Such a statement underscores the profound connection she has to the track, which she describes as taking pride of place on her forthcoming album, Virgin. The cover art for the single, shot by Talia Chetrit, features a piece of duct tape across Lorde's chest, symbolizing her nuanced exploration of gender and identity. This particular image resonates with imagery from her 2025 Met Gala appearance, which she described as an “Easter egg” hinting at the themes of her music.

Lorde's journey with gender identity has been a focal point in her public commentary, particularly in the lead-up to her new album's release. In discussions, she opened up about how stopping birth control played a pivotal role in her gender discovery. It led to a more fluid understanding of her identity, as she described, “I felt like stopping taking my birth control, I had cut some sort of cord between myself and this regulated femininity.” This revelation, along with her dialogue with fellow artist Chappell Roan about gender labels, highlights Lorde's position as feeling partly non-binary, stating, “I’m a woman except for the days when I’m a man,” reflecting her resistance to strict gender categorization.

In exploring this duality, Lorde's interactions and attire at significant public events have been telling. At the aforementioned Met Gala, she wore a Thom Browne outfit that has come to mirror her music's concepts, particularly the idea of blending traditional masculinity with femininity. This aesthetic choice is not merely sartorial but is deeply symbolic of where she currently finds herself on her gender identity journey. This evolving understanding has been further influenced by her recovery from an eating disorder, which Lorde has candidly shared helped ground her identity and led her to reject constrictive beauty standards.

Aside from thematic depth, the music composition and lyrics of “Man of the Year” also draw attention. Opening lines such as “Some days I’m a woman/ Some days I’m a man” succinctly encapsulate her exploration of identity within and outside societal norms. The nature of these lyrics, alongside the anticipation for the complete album, has fueled interest in how Lorde will continue to articulate these personal narratives through her music.

As Lorde prepares to release Virgin, the title itself suggests a rebirth or a new beginning, an apt metaphor for how she is reimagining her public and personal identity. Fans eagerly await not only the music but also the profound honesty they have come to expect from Lorde's work. As she steps further into spaces less defined by traditional gender binaries, her music stands to validate and inspire countless listeners grappling with similar understandings of identity. Through “Man of the Year” and beyond, Lorde is poised to continue her legacy as a voice for authenticity and introspective exploration in contemporary music.

Key Takeaways

Related Stories

MAX WEINBERG ( Drums) and BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and the E Street Band perform onstage during the opening night of The Land of Hope and Dreams Tour at Co-op Live Arena on May 14, 2025, in Manchester, England. The 2025 tour is SPRINGSTEEN's first major European run since 2023 and features classic hits alongside material from his recent albums. The show took place at the UK's newest and largest indoor arena. Bruce Springsteen Opens The Land Of Hope And Dreams Tour In Manchester, United Kingdom - 14 May 2025

Bruce Springsteen Stuns NYFF With Acoustic “Land of Hope and Dreams”

Bruce Springsteen made a surprise appearance at the 63rd New York Film Festival in New York City on September 28,…

REO Speedwagon Reunites: Rock Legends Come Together Once More

In late September 2025, fans got a shock — and a thrill — when REO Speedwagon reunited onstage for the…

Paul McCartney Surprises by Playing “Help!” in Full After Six Decades

When Sir Paul McCartney opened his 2025 U.S. tour in Santa Barbara with “Help!”, it marked a milestone moment: the…

Bad Bunny to take the stage at Super Bowl Halftime Show

When the NFL tapped Bad Bunny as the headliner for the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, it wasn’t just another…

Rock Alert: Ace Frehley Hospitalized After Studio Fall

Legendary guitarist Ace Frehley, best known as a founding member of KISS, was recently hospitalized following a fall sustained in…

Judas Priest & Ozzy Osbourne: Hear two legends collaborate on “War Pigs” on AXS.tv

Hear Judas Priest and Ozzy Osbourne sing “War Pigs” Few events in heavy metal history resonate as strongly as the…

Sammy Hagar’s new supergroup with Chad Kroeger and Tommy Lee: What we know.

Sammy Hagar just teased a new all-star collaboration with Tommy Lee and Chad Kroeger. Charlie Benante says he cut at…

The Cars’ Heartbeat City Gets Luxuriously Expanded for 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

What’s New in the Re-Release On October 31, 2025, Rhino Records will drop the 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Heartbeat…

Elton John gives his house keys to Lola Young after losing bet

The Headline, The Hook, The House Keys When a legend publicly bets on a newcomer, the cosign alone is news.…