Overview

• Lorde released Virgin on June 27 as her fourth studio album, featuring an x-ray cover image of her pelvis with a belt buckle, zipper and contraceptive spiral.
• The vinyl edition includes a provocative photograph purported to show her vulva, fueling online debate about pop imagery.
• Critics praised Virgin as a controlled-chaotic, introspective triumph that signals a reflective new phase in her artistry.
• Her single What Was That reached number one on Spotify in the US, and album streams have climbed steadily since release.
• After parting ways with Jack Antonoff, Lorde collaborated with Jim-E Stack on Virgin and delves into themes of sexuality, body image, eating-disorder recovery and genderfluidity.