Lorde seen near Madison Square Garden. Photo:
Raymond Hall/GC Images
- Singer Lorde shared an Instagram Story on Tuesday, April 22, inviting fans to attend her 7 p.m. performance in New York’s Washington Square Park
- Before the scheduled start time, a large crowd had gathered, and the NYPD shut down the event, subsequently telling PEOPLE that the necessary permits were not obtained to host the event
- Many of the fans who stayed in the park were rewarded when the singer returned later with her collaborator Blood Orange, who played her new track, “What Was That,” while Lorde danced to the tune
Lorde didn’t disappoint fans who attended her Washington Square Park pop-up despite the event being initially dispersed by the New York Police Department.
The Solar Power singer, 28, who has recently announced her first new single since 2021, “What Was That,” teased a mysterious invite to come to the N.Y.C. park at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, on her Instagram story earlier that day.
By 6:47 p.m., a large crowd gathered in the park awaiting Lorde’s appearance. The event was promptly shut down by police. A spokesperson for the NYPD told PEOPLE, “Officers were alerted of an unscheduled event inside the park. Sound and park permits are required to have a concert in a New York City Park, and the individuals were not in possession of either. Organizers of the event were informed they could not perform, and they left the location.”
The singer cooperated with police, posting a follow up Instagram story that read “Omg @thepark the cops are shutting us down.”
“I am truly Amazed by how many of you showed up !!! But they’re telling me you gotta disperse … I’m so sorry,” she concluded.
Lorde attends the Miu Miu Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 05, 2024. Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty
However, the permit issue did not prevent the pop-up in the end, per Vulture. Lorde’s collaborator, singer-songwriter and producer Blood Orange, real name Dev Hynes, appeared and played her new single on a handheld radio at 8 p.m. Lorde then later re-appeared at approximately 9:30 p.m. local time to dance and sing the new song to remaining park dwellers, according to the outlet.
“You guys are so amazing,” she told the crowd, as captured by several fans’ videos. “I love you so much.” The large crowd remained in place for several hours, with some even climbing nearby trees for the best view.
Lorde at the GQ Men of the Year Party 2023 at Bar Marmont on November 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Lorde at the GQ Men of the Year Party 2023 at Bar Marmont on November 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California
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A day prior to the event, Lorde was spotted courtside at a New York Knicks game with her sister, Indy Yelich, per Harper’s Bazaar. She also made an appearance during Charli XCX’s April 13 Coachella set, singing their viral duet “Girl, So Confusing.”
Known for her confessional songwriting, Lorde made a name for herself throughout the 2010s with hit songs “Royals,” “Team,” “Green Light,” “Ribs” and “Yellow Flicker Beat,” which appeared on the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
“What Was That” will release on Friday, April 25.
