An impromptu preview of Lorde's brand new single in a New York City park took an unexpected turn when it drew a massive crowd and was subsequently axed by the police.
- Apr 24, 2025
AceShowbiz - A Tuesday evening, April 22 in New York's Washington Square Park turned into an impromptu fan gathering when Lorde hinted at a surprise appearance. In an Instagram story, she teased her followers with a captivating "Tonight 7pm" and footage of the park, setting the stage for what was assumed to be a live preview of her new single, "What Was That."
The nearly 10-acre park in Lower Manhattan was soon teeming with fans, hoping to catch a sight of the Grammy-winning artist.
Enthusiasts had previously been offered a mere 15-second snippet of the song on TikTok, which only stoked the excitement. The song features Lorde's signature synth-pop style and poignant lyrics, "Since I was seventeen, I gave you everything. Now, we wake from a dream. Well, baby, what was that?"
However, the excitement was cut short when local police, alerted to the unscheduled event, began dispersing the crowd. Lorde addressed the situation on Instagram, "Omg @thepark the cops are shutting us down I am truly Amazed by how many of you showed up !!!" She added,"“But they're telling me you gotta disperse ... I'm so sorry."
According to a DCPI spokesman, a sound and parks permit is required to hold a concert in a New York City park, which the event organizers did not possess.
Despite the police intervention, dedicated fans weren't entirely left disappointed. Prolific producer Dev Hynes, known as Blood Orange, made a surprising appearance with a speaker and played the full version of "What Was That," granting a lucky few an exclusive preview as he maneuvered through the park.
Lorde has been engaging her fans in unconventional ways ahead of her new single's official release on April 25. Besides the sporadic social media teasers, she shifted from her usual newsletter to communicate directly via text messages, allowing for more spontaneous interactions.
"I don't want to be stressing about capturing the moment with the right language," Lorde expressed, emphasizing a more candid approach in her communications.
Along with a recent performance at Coachella, the buzz marks a thrilling prelude to what promises to be an exciting musical chapter for Lorde and her fans.
