Solar Power is the third studio album by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde. It was released on August 20, 2021, through Universal Music New Zealand.
Inspired by the death of her dog Pearl and a 2019 trip to Antarctica, the album reflects themes of solitude, nature, and disillusionment with fame, drawing heavily from Lorde’s life in New Zealand.
Described by Lorde as her “weed album,” Solar Power blends psychedelic pop and indie folk, centering on acoustic guitar arrangements and moving away from her earlier electronic sound. The album received mixed reviews—praised for its vocal maturity but critiqued for its minimalist production and songwriting. Lorde later called the reception “confounding” and “painful.” It was supported by four singles: “Solar Power”, “Stoned at the Nail Salon”, “Mood Ring”, and “Fallen Fruit”.
Background[]
After concluding the North American leg of the Melodrama World Tour in May 2018, Lorde cleared her social media accounts, leaving only three Instagram posts and two tweets. She later explained the decision by saying she was "a baby writer in search of a legacy," and shared that she had “decided to be clean” and would "step back from social media and find new ways and exciting ways of communicating."
Around this time, Lorde also expressed a long-term goal to write and produce an album entirely on her own. Speaking about her growing role as a producer, she stated:
"It's stepping up and becoming a producer that I found super liberating. I've got a bit of a goal for myself. I don't know if it will be the next record or the one after, but I eventually want to produce an entire record myself."
In November 2018, she revealed via her newsletter that she had started learning piano and was outlining ideas for her third studio album. Her first live performance since the tour took place in April 2019 at a benefit concert in Christchurch, supporting victims of the mosque shootings. Later that year, she paused work on the album following the death of her beloved dog Pearl, who died after suffering two cardiac arrests. In her words,
“I have lost my boy, and I need some time before I can come back.”
A turning point came in February 2019, when Lorde spent five days at Scott Base in Antarctica, a trip she had dreamed of since childhood. Coordinated by Antarctica New Zealand, the visit required vaccinations, medical clearance, and wearing ECW gear for travel aboard a military aircraft. There, she observed wildlife, shadowed scientists, and took weather recordings. She later reflected that the jarring transition—from the beaches of New Zealand’s summer to the extreme cold of Antarctica and back again—influenced the album's themes. The title Solar Power came to her shortly after returning home. By March 2020, Lorde gave fans a brief update during a call with Australian radio station Triple J, saying that “bits and pieces” of the new album were “starting to take a very exciting shape.” In May, she confirmed she had returned to the studio the previous December and was working again with Jack Antonoff. In an email, she wrote:
"Good things came out. Happy, playful things." "I can tell you, this new thing, it's got its own colours now. If you know anything about my work, you'll know what that means. [...] The work is so fucking good, my friend. I am truly jazzed for you to hear it."
Producer Malay also revealed in July that he had been working with Lorde in New Zealand prior to the COVID-19 lockdowns. Unlike their prior collaborations, they “started from zero,” a process he called “really unique and fun.” Hints of a comeback began to emerge throughout late 2020 and 2021. In October, Lorde teased on Instagram that she might “give something in return next year if people vote,” subtly alluding to L3. On May 25, 2021, Primavera Sound announced her as part of their 2022 lineup, writing:
"Lorde… will emerge from her retirement with her third album after her unforgettable visit in 2018."
On June 2, 2021, an insider known as RideOrDie leaked details suggesting that “Solar Power” would serve as the lead single and “Mood Ring” as the third. He ended his post by saying,
“She really hates the winter I guess.”
Finally, on June 7, producer Jack Antonoff shared the single’s cover on Instagram. Lorde’s official website updated to display “Coming in 2021” and “Patience is a virtue.” After the single leaked online, Lorde released “Solar Power” early on June 10, 2021—coinciding with the year’s only solar eclipse. In a message to fans, she confirmed the song would serve as the title track to her third album and cryptically encouraged them to follow the rhythms of nature for clues:
“Look to the natural calendar for clues.”
Writing and production[]
In November 2017 interview with Zane Lowe, Lorde shared her ambition to improve her production skills and eventually write and produce an entire album on her own. However, following the intense Melodrama era and tour schedule, she chose to slow down and reconnect with life in New Zealand. By early 2019, she had embraced a quieter domestic routine, finding joy in cooking, swimming, gardening, and spending time with friends and family. These everyday experiences later shaped the lyrical direction of her next record.
Lorde described Solar Power as “a celebration of the natural world.” She likened her time in the sun to a spiritual experience, not in a religious sense, but as a connection to something higher. Speaking to Sean Evans on Hot Ones, she referred to the album as “a sun worship album.” During the writing process, she imagined a utopian place she called “the Island,” which helped her adopt a more expansive perspective in her songwriting. Inspired by artists like Joni Mitchell, she began to reflect on nature’s rhythms and how they mirror the cycles of life and death.
The album's conceptual foundation was influenced by How to Do Nothing, a book by Jenny Odell, which explores disengagement from productivity culture. Lorde also drew inspiration from the 1960s counterculture and flower child movements, recognizing parallels between their values and those of her own generation. To disconnect from the internet, she worked with a programmer to block access to social media and other websites on her devices and set her phone display to grayscale to reduce distraction. This digital detox prompted her to reassess her relationship with fame and public life.
Musically, Lorde envisioned Solar Power as a blend of 1960s and 1970s folk with early 2000s bubblegum pop. The album incorporates ambient sounds from nature, including cicadas recorded in real time. She cited influences ranging from S Club 7, TLC, Natalie Imbruglia, All Saints, Natasha Bedingfield, and Nelly Furtado to folk rock icons like the Mamas and the Papas, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, she described the record as evoking “2 to 5 p.m.—it’s golden hour,” and often associated the color gold with its overall atmosphere.
To organize the creative process, Lorde used a whiteboard with color-coded sections to track progress on each part of the album. She also maintained a detailed running note on her phone and in notebooks to document evolving ideas throughout development.
Release and promotion[]
In October 2020, Lorde teased new music in an Instagram Story, offering it as a gift if fans voted in New Zealand’s general election and referendums.[1] The following month, she announced Going South (2021), a memoir about her 2019 trip to Antarctica, describing it as a companion piece to her upcoming album.[2]
On May 25, 2021, Lorde was announced as a headliner for the 2022 Primavera Sound festival,[3] with the website hinting at her return.[4] After the artwork and title track leaked, she teased the release on her website with the message “Arriving in 2021… Patience is a virtue.”[5] On June 11, 2021, she officially released the lead single “Solar Power”, coinciding with a solar eclipse,[6] and confirmed that her third album would share the same title.[7] The tracklist and release date were revealed on June 21.[8]
She promoted the album with performances of “Solar Power” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and “Stoned at the Nail Salon” on Late Night with Seth Meyers,[9] where she also appeared in a “Day Drinking” segment.[10] The third single, “Mood Ring”, was released on August 18, 2021. Lorde was initially scheduled to perform at the 2021 MTV VMAs but cancelled due to COVID-19 production limitations.[11]
The fourth single, “Fallen Fruit”, was released alongside the bonus tracks “Helen of Troy” and “Hold No Grudge”.[12] Lorde supported the album with a tour from April 2022 to April 2023, featuring opening acts like Remi Wolf, Japanese Breakfast, Marlon Williams, and Muna.[13]
Lack of CD release[]
Unlike her previous albums, Solar Power did not receive a traditional jewel case CD release.[14] Lorde cited environmental concerns as the main reason, stating she didn’t want to produce “something that would end up in a landfill in two years.” Instead, she introduced an eco-friendly alternative called the music box, which included handwritten notes, exclusive photographs, merchandise concepts, bonus tracks, mailing list content, and a download card offering high-quality digital audio.[14]
Lorde described the music box as an “environmentally kind, forward-thinking alternative to the CD”.[15] Made entirely from paper and cardboard, the packaging contains no plastic and is fully biodegradable within three months. While vinyl editions were produced, some critics noted that both vinyl and digital formats carry environmental impacts—from petrochemical plastics to the energy demands of data storage and streaming. Music industry publication Hits emphasized how traditional plastic CDs contribute to ocean pollution, reinforcing Lorde’s shift away from physical discs.[16]
Album art[]
The album artwork for Solar Power was photographed by Lorde’s friend and collaborator Ophelia Mikkelson Jones.[17] Taken on a beach using a fisheye lens from a low angle, the image captures Lorde mid-jump over Mikkelson, who was lying on the sand. The photograph shows Lorde wearing a yellow rash guard and a swimsuit, with her body partially blocking the sun above.[18] It was revealed on Lorde’s official website in June 2021. In a later interview, Lorde described the image as “a little hardcore” and “feral,” but also said it conveys joy, freedom, innocence, and playfulness. Reflecting on the decision, she remarked:
“It's a specific experience thinking about everyone in your life seeing your butt. I have no regrets. I love this cover and am happy for this to be how people see my butt.”
Because of its revealing nature, a censored version of the artwork was released in several markets where modesty regulations are stricter. In this version, the sun was digitally brightened to obscure her buttocks. It appeared on streaming platforms in regions including mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as on Spotify in Japan and Chinese platforms such as NetEase Cloud Music and QQ Music. Critics have praised the cover for its bold statement of bodily autonomy. Meagan Fredette of W noted that it expresses Lorde’s sexuality without succumbing to the male gaze. Jenessa Williams of The Forty-Five wrote that the image presents “a distinct challenge to society”, as it tests public responses to female-made, risqué expressions of agency.[19] She compared the cover to those of other albums that also depict the nude female body in a purposeful way, such as Night Time, My Time by Sky Ferreira, The Haunted Man by Bat for Lashes, Vulnicura by Björk, and Island Life by Grace Jones.
.jpg "Solar Power – Album Artwork (Censored).jpg (2.49 MB)")
Argentinian graphic designer Gustavo Eandi was responsible for creating the album’s visual identity, including Lorde’s updated logo.
Tour[]
See Also: The Solar Power Tour
On May 25, 2021, Lorde was announced as a headliner for Primavera Sound 2022. On June 21, she revealed the Solar Power tracklist and announced dates for the Solar Power Tour. Presale began on June 24 for North America and Europe, and June 30 for Australia and New Zealand, followed by general sales on June 25 and July 5, respectively. Additional shows were added in cities like London, Toronto, New York, and Šibenik due to high demand. The tour was originally scheduled to begin in 2022, but on November 10, 2021, the Australasian leg was postponed to 2023 due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. Lorde stated she preferred to perform when conditions were stable. New shows were later added in Lower Hutt, Brisbane, and Perth.
Critical reception[]
Solar Power received generally favorable but polarised reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, it holds a score of 69 out of 100 based on 27 reviews.[20]
Several reviewers praised the album's introspective themes and minimalist production. Spencer Kornhaber (The Atlantic) called it a "near masterpiece",[21] while Rhian Daly (NME) praised it as a "dazzling hat-trick."[22] Rolling Stone’s Brittany Spanos described it as "smooth and beachy", chronicling a search for peace,[23] and Variety’s Chris Willman commended its lyrical clarity.[24] Critics also noted the album’s 1960s folk-pop influences, with Clash’s Lucy Harbron describing it as “sun-stroked” rather than sun-soaked.[25]
Others were more reserved. Alexis Petridis (The Guardian) found parts of it “undernourished”,[26] and Slant’s Sal Cinquemani thought the album lost momentum halfway through.[27] Abby Jones (Consequence) labelled it “pleasant background music” with weak cultural references.[28] Some were even harsher: Spin’s Bobby Olivier called it Lorde’s “least vital project”,[29] while The Independent and Evening Standard criticized it as underwhelming and lacking in memorable hooks.[30][31]
Commercial performance[]
Two weeks prior to its release on August 20, 2021, Solar Power topped Apple Music's pre-add chart for the week of July 30 to August 5, 2021.[32] In the United States, the album debuted at number five on the Billboard 200, earning 56,000 album-equivalent units—34,000 in pure sales and 22,000 from 28.38 million on-demand streams. Hits magazine criticized Billboard for excluding sales of the "Music Box" edition from its chart, noting that both the Hits Top 50 and Rolling Stone Top 200 charts counted those sales and placed Solar Power at number three. Billboard upheld its long-standing policy that box sets must include a physical copy of the album to be eligible.[33] The album also debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Alternative Albums chart.[34]
Internationally, Solar Power debuted at number one in Australia, where it remained on the ARIA Albums Chart for six weeks. It also reached number one in New Zealand[35] and charted within the top ten in 14 countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom,[34] peaking at number two in the latter.[36]
Singles[]
The lead single, "Solar Power", was released on June 10, 2021. Co-produced by Lorde, Jack Antonoff, and Malay, the track marked a shift toward folk-pop and sunshine pop, drawing inspiration from George Michael and Primal Scream’s Loaded. Its lyrics celebrate freedom, nature, and stepping away from fame. The video, co-directed by Joel Kefali and Lorde, shows her on a sunlit beach among a serene, cult-like group.
The second single, "Stoned at the Nail Salon", was released on July 21, 2021. A reflective ballad co-produced with Antonoff, it features backing vocals from Phoebe Bridgers, Clairo, and Marlon Williams. The song explores themes of aging and uncertainty. While it had no official video, a minimalist visualizer was released.
The third single, "Mood Ring", was released on August 17, 2021, just days before the album’s release. Featuring soft pop production and satirical lyrics, it critiques wellness culture and performative spirituality. Its pastel-toned video, directed by Kefali and Lorde, shows women engaging in ritualistic wellness practices.
The fourth single, "Fallen Fruit", was released on November 2, 2021. A psychedelic folk ballad with environmental themes, it contrasts earlier tracks with a darker tone. The video continues the narrative from Solar Power, depicting a paradise turned to ruins as Lorde walks barefoot through the wreckage.
June 10, 2021
July 21, 2021
August 17, 2021
November 2, 2021
Te Ao Mārama[]
See Also: Te Ao Mārama
On September 9, 2021, Lorde released a five-song companion EP to Solar Power titled Te Ao Mārama, meaning "World of Light" in Māori. The EP features five re-recordings of songs from Solar Power sung in the Māori language. Although Lorde herself is not Māori, she worked with Māori language experts, including Sir Tīmoti Kāretu, and collaborated with Kiwi singers Bic Runga and Marlon Williams to highlight "the long history of injustices that Maori language and culture has suffered and the inequities that persist today, specifically in New Zealand's music industry". Proceeds from the EP were donated to the charities Forest and Bird and Te Hua Kawariki Charitable Trust.
Track listing[]
There are 12 tracks on the standard track list and 2 additional on the deluxe edition, all with confirmed titles and digitally released.
| Standard edition | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "The Path" | Ella Yelich-O'Connor, Jack Antonoff | Lorde, Jack Antonoff, Malay | 3:41 |
| 2. | "Solar Power" | Yelich-O'Connor, Antonoff | Lorde, Antonoff, Malay | 3:13 |
| 3. | "California" | Yelich-O'Connor, Antonoff | Lorde, Antonoff | 3:11 |
| 4. | "Stoned at the Nail Salon" | Yelich-O'Connor, Antonoff | Lorde, Antonoff | 4:26 |
| 5. | "Fallen Fruit" | Yelich-O'Connor, Antonoff | Lorde, Antonoff | 3:58 |
| 6. | "Secrets from a Girl (Who's Seen It All)" | Yelich-O'Connor, Antonoff, Robin Carlsson | Lorde, Antonoff | 3:38 |
| 7. | "The Man with the Axe" | Yelich-O'Connor | Lorde, Antonoff, Malay | 4:15 |
| 8. | "Dominoes" | Yelich-O'Connor, Antonoff | Lorde, Antonoff | 2:03 |
| 9. | "Big Star" | Yelich-O'Connor, Antonoff | Lorde, Antonoff | 2:47 |
| 10. | "Leader of a New Regime" | Yelich-O'Connor | Lorde, Antonoff, Malay | 1:33 |
| 11. | "Mood Ring" | Yelich-O'Connor, Antonoff | Lorde, Antonoff | 3:45 |
| 12. | "Oceanic Feeling" | Yelich-O'Connor | Lorde, Antonoff | 6:39 |
| Total length: | 43:09 | |||
| Deluxe edition | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
| 13. | "Helen of Troy" | Ella Yelich-O'Connor, Jack Antonoff | Lorde, Jack Antonoff | 2:51 |
| 14. | "Hold No Grudge" | Yelich-O'Connor | Lorde, Antonoff | 4:28 |
| Total length: | 50:28 | |||
Personnel[]
Credits adapted from Tidal.[1]
Musicians
- Lorde – vocals
- Jack Antonoff – bass, electric guitar (all tracks); acoustic guitar (1–6, 8, 11–14), drums (1–3, 6, 7, 11, 12), keyboards (1, 5–8, 11, 13), Mellotron (1, 4–6, 10), Farfisa (3, 4, 8, 10, 12), percussion (1, 2, 5, 12), piano (1, 3–5), programming (1, 5–8, 11, 12, 14), Wurlitzer electric piano (1, 5, 6), 12-string acoustic guitar (2, 5, 6)
- Clairo – background vocals (1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11)
- Lawrence Arabia – background vocals (1, 4, 5, 10, 11)
- Marlon Williams – background vocals (1, 4, 5, 10–12)
- Phoebe Bridgers – background vocals (1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11)
- Malay – bass (1, 5–7, 10, 13), acoustic guitar (7, 10, 14), programming (7), keyboards (10, 14), piano (14)
- Matt Chamberlain – drums (1–3, 6, 11–14), percussion (2, 12–14), programming (2, 11–14)
- Evan Smith – flute (1, 3, 5, 12–), saxophone (1–3, 5, 12–13), keyboards (13)
- Cole Kamen-Green – trumpet (2)
- Robyn – vocals (6)
- Bobby Hawk – violin (9, 10)
Technical
- Lorde – production
- Jack Antonoff – production (all tracks), mixing (4, 5, 7–10, 13)
- Malay – production (1, 7, 10, 14)
- Chris Gehringer – mastering
- Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (1–3, 6, 11, 12, 14)
- Laura Sisk – mixing (4, 5, 7–10, 13)
- Will Quinnell – mastering assistance
- Matt Wolach – mixing assistance (2, 3, 5, 14)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://listen.tidal.com/album/194384501/credits
- ↑ https://www.vice.com/en/article/lorde-solar-power-butt-cover-art-censored/
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/culture/events/lorde-primavera-sound-festival-2022-lineup-9578022/
- ↑ https://www.nme.com/news/music/lordes-fans-await-comeback-after-singer-is-confirmed-for-primavera-lorde-is-coming-2948198
- ↑ https://www.stereogum.com/2150165/lorde-new-album-timeline-solar-power/columns/the-week-in-pop/
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jun/11/lorde-releases-new-single-solar-power-to-coincide-with-solar-eclipse
- ↑ https://www.stereogum.com/2150645/lorde-solar-power/music/
- ↑ https://pitchfork.com/news/lorde-announces-tour-reveals-release-date-and-tracklist-for-new-album-solar-power/
- ↑ https://www.vulture.com/2021/07/lorde-new-song-stoned-at-the-nail-salon.html
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/lorde-day-drinking-seth-meyers-9604842/
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lorde-explains-why-she-canceled-vmas-performance-2021-9626699/
- ↑ https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/54669/1/lorde-beach-day-goes-bad-in-the-video-for-fallen-fruit-solar-power-deluxe
- ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lorde-new-album-solar-power-release-date-2022-tour-1187145/
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/lorde-interview-solar-power-cd-music-box-9591079/
- ↑ https://www.nme.com/news/music/lorde-praised-for-dropping-cds-and-offering-discless-version-of-new-album-2975387
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jan/28/vinyl-record-revival-environmental-impact-music-industry-streaming
- ↑ https://www.nzherald.co.nz/viva/fashion/style-liaisons-in-conversation-with-artist-photographer-ophelia-mikkelson-jones/2OBYN7N3P5XOD3JIZJAZ6R5NDA/
- ↑ https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/lorde-album-cover-solar-power
- ↑ https://thefortyfive.com/opinion/lordes-sexy-cover-art-leap-into-visual-empowerment-solar-power/
- ↑ https://www.metacritic.com/music/solar-power/lorde
- ↑ https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/08/lorde-solar-power-review/619808/
- ↑ https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/lorde-solar-power-review-3023597
- ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/lorde-vibes-through-a-quarter-life-crisis-on-solar-power-1213838/
- ↑ https://variety.com/2021/music/reviews/lorde-solar-power-album-review-1235045295/
- ↑ https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/lorde-solar-power
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/aug/19/lorde-solar-power-review-universal
- ↑ https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/lorde-solar-power-album-review/
- ↑ https://consequence.net/2021/08/solar-power-review-lorde-album/
- ↑ https://www.spin.com/2021/08/lorde-solar-power-album-review/
- ↑ https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/lorde-review-solar-power-b1904612.html
- ↑ https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/lorde-solar-power-album-review-musical-resignation-letter-b951183.html
- ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lordes-solar-power-launches-to-number-one-on-apple-music-pre-add-chart-1210090/
- ↑ https://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/rumor-mill/the-bibleaeurotms-lessigreaterpowerlessigreater-failure
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 https://www.billboard.com/artist/lorde/chart-history/cna/
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20210324160641/https://nztop40.co.nz/
- ↑ https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20210827/7502/
[]
v • e 
| |
|---|---|
| Featured tracks | The Path • Solar Power • California • Stoned at the Nail Salon • Fallen Fruit • Secrets from a Girl (Who's Seen It All) • The Man with the Axe • Dominoes • Big Star • Leader of a New Regime • Mood Ring • Oceanic Feeling |
| Bonus tracks | Helen of Troy • Hold No Grudge |
| Producers | Ella Yelich-O'Connor • Jack Antonoff • Malay |
| Writers | Ella Yelich-O'Connor • Jack Antonoff • Robin Carlsson |
| Related | Te Ao Mārama |
| Tours | The Solar Power Tour |