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Lorde's new album Solar Power might sound like it might pack a big message about climate change, but according to the New Zealand singer/songwriter, it's not her "big climate change record."
In a new interview with The Guardian, Lorde explained that addressing the natural world on the project "was kind of a grieving process as well as a celebratory one." And though many are convinced that the imagery like the beach in her "Solar Power" music video, as well as her yellow outfit, may associate a deeper meaning in terms of the environment and climate, she says that Solar Power is not "my big climate change record." Though the beach will appear in more upcoming videos to "reveal its mysteries," Lorde adds, "I'm not a climate activist, I'm a pop star. I stoke the fire of a giant machine, spitting out emissions as I go. There is a lot I don't know."
Solar Power is Lorde's third full-length album following 2017's Melodrama, and showcases 12 new songs, including the recently-released lead single and title track, "Solar Power." In a newsletter sent to fans, Lorde said of her new music:
"It's my divine pleasure to be introducing you, at long last, to my third studio album, SOLAR POWER. The first song, also called SOLAR POWER and written and produced by myself and Jack, is the first of the rays. It's about that infections, flirtatious, summer energy that takes hold of us all, come June (or December, if you're a Southern Hemisphere baby like me but I know that's literally IMPOSSIBLE for you all to wrap your little heads around so don't worry about it!!). I made everything with friends here in New Zealand. My best mate Ophelia took the cover photo, lying on the sand as I leapt over her, both of us laughing. The director who made my first ever music video, Joel, helped me create the videos, building an entire cinematic universe that I can't wait for you to see."
She added, "The album is a celebration of the natural world, an attempt at immortalising the deep, transcendent feelings I have when I'm outdoors. In times of heartache, grief, deep love, or confusion, I look to the natural world for answers. I've learnt to breathe out, and tune in. This is what came through."