New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde, born Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor, has recently shared insights into her evolving relationship with gender, sparking conversations among fans and media. In a candid discussion, the 28-year-old artist revealed that she only began to fully embrace her sense of womanhood at age 26, a realization that has deeply influenced her upcoming fourth album, Virgin, set for release on June 27, 2025.
Lorde has described her gender identity as fluid, noting that she feels “in the middle gender-wise.” She explained that her understanding of gender expanded as she worked on healing her relationship with her body, particularly after addressing challenges with disordered eating and stopping birth control after a decade. This shift, she said, allowed her to feel less constrained by traditional notions of femininity, opening up a broader sense of self-expression. In one instance, she recalled trying on men’s jeans and visualizing herself with a more masculine presentation, which inspired songs like “Man of the Year” on Virgin. The album’s opening track includes the lyrics, “Some days I’m a woman / Some days I’m a man,” reflecting this exploration.
In conversations with close friend and fellow musician Chappell Roan, Lorde clarified her stance, resisting labels like nonbinary while describing herself as “a woman except for the days when I’m a man.” She emphasized her reluctance to box her identity into a single category, acknowledging her privilege as a cisgender woman while expressing solidarity with transgender and nonbinary communities. Lorde also credited influences like her androgynous mother and artists such as David Bowie and Grace Jones for shaping her perspective on gender as a source of power and creativity.
The Virgin album, described as raw and vulnerable, draws from these personal transformations, with Lorde aiming to create a transparent reflection of her femininity—blending elements she describes as “raw, primal, innocent, elegant, openhearted, spiritual, masc.” Her journey has resonated with fans, though it has also sparked some online debate, with some praising her openness and others questioning the framing of her gender exploration.
As Lorde prepares for her album release and a 2025 world tour, her reflections highlight a broader cultural conversation about gender fluidity and self-discovery, inviting listeners to embrace the complexity of identity.
