Lorde Explores Gender Identity On New Single, ‘Man Of The Year’

Lorde has officially unveiled the second cut of her forthcoming fourth studio album, Virgin. Dubbed ‘Man Of The Year’, the Kiwi alt-pop megastar’s new single is a brooding, introspective and emotionally-charged track that delves into her evolving understanding of her own gender identity.

In a candid interview with Rolling Stone, Lorde shared that the song was inspired by a moment of self-reflection, where she visualised a version of herself that was “fully representative of how [her] gender felt in that moment”.

Lorde – ‘Man Of The Year’

“My gender got way more expansive when I gave my body more room,” she explained, expressing a resistance to rigid labels in favour of a more fluid and expansive understanding of gender itself.

Once again co-produced by the Lorde herself and Jim-E Stack (Bon Iver), the track follows on from the breakout success of previous single ‘What Was That’, which hit #1 on Spotify in the US — marking Lorde’s first US #1 on the platform since 2013’s ‘Royals’.

Lorde described the new single on social media as “An offering from really deep inside me” and “the song I’m proudest of on Virgin.”

Its release is accompanied by a mesmerising music video that further explores the same themes, which you can watch up above.

Virgin, the follow-up to Lorde’s 2021 Solar Power LP will arrive next month, due to hit our eardrums on Friday, 27th June.

To coincide with the release of ‘Man Of The Year’, Lorde has also shared the official tracklisting for Virgin, which notably contains no guest features.

You can check that out below, or pre-order Lorde’s new album HERE.

Virgin Official Tracklist

1. Hammer

2. What Was That

3. Shapeshifter

4. Man Of The Year

5. Favourite Daughter

6. Current Affairs

7. Clearblue

8. GRWM

9. Broken Glass

10. If She Could See Me Now

11. David

Further Reading

Lorde Announces New Album ‘Virgin’

Lorde Returns With First New Music In Four Years, ‘What Was That’

Love Letter To A Record: Miramar On Lorde’s ‘Melodrama’