If you're anything like the RUSSH team, you've woken up with a serious case of envy this morning. In a moment that's likely taken over your social feeds, Lorde made a surprise appearance at a Sydney nightclub last night, and we are still recovering.
The venue was Mary’s Underground, a live music bar in Sydney's CBD. On Sunday night, it played host to a listening party dedicated to Lorde's music – but as her discography came through the speakers, it was none other than Lorde who danced elusively through the crowd, singing along with fans who couldn’t quite believe what they were seeing.
View this post on Instagram
Now that we’ve had a moment to catch our collective breath, the real question is – why is Lorde in Sydney? Let's investigate.
Why is Lorde in Australia?
There’s no official announcement tying her visit to any Australian tour dates (yet). In fact, her upcoming Ultrasound world tour, set to begin in the US this September, notably excludes Australia and her native New Zealand. But the timing of her trip feels far from random. Lorde’s fourth studio album, Virgin, is set to drop on June 27 – and her first single from the project, the raw and crystalline 'What Was That,' was released last month, marking her return to solo music after a four-year hiatus.
Lorde has already made waves promoting the record in unconventional ways – most notably with a spontaneous listening party in Washington Square Park in NYC. Could this Sydney pop-in be a nod to something similar? A soft promo run? A sign of more surprises to come?
Will Lorde host a listening party in Australia?
Perhaps the most compelling argument to support the listening party theory is the fact that Lorde is on the cusp of releasing her second single from Virgin, titled 'Man Of The Year.' So far, she's teased the track on Instagram, writing, "An offering from really deep inside me. The song I’m proudest of on Virgin. Out next week." A few days later, she returned to the app with a video of herself wading through water, and a snippet of the single playing in the background.
View this post on Instagram
While nothing is confirmed, we can't help but wonder: if a 'Man Of The Year' listening party heading for Australia? We don't have the answers yet, but if Sunday night is anything to go by, anything is possible.
Will Lorde go anywhere else in Australia?
At this stage, Lorde’s movements remain as elusive as ever. With no public itinerary and no official appearances confirmed beyond her unexpected drop-in at Mary’s Underground, it’s anyone’s guess where she might show up next. Melbourne? Byron? Tasmania? Knowing Lorde, the next sighting could be just as spontaneous. We'll keep you updated.
