Lorde performs unreleased song at Washington Square Park after police shut down pop-up

Lorde surprised fans with a performance at Washington Square Park in New York City on Tuesday night, hours after police shut down an earlier gathering at the same location due to the lack of an event permit.

The singer-songwriter, known for her spontaneous fan interactions, performed an unreleased track titled "What Was That", slated for release on 25 April as the lead single from her upcoming fourth album.

Fans first gathered at the park after Lorde posted a photo of the location on social media, captioned “Tonight. 7pm - x x”. The cryptic message quickly drew a crowd.

However, before she could perform, NYPD officers and park rangers intervened, citing the absence of the required sound and park permits. “This individual did not possess either,” a spokesperson for the NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information said. “Organisers of the event were informed they could not perform and they left the location.” The spokesperson did not name Lorde directly.

Lorde addressed the disruption in an Instagram story, stating: “Omg @thepark the cops are shutting us down. I am truly amazed by how many of you showed up! But they're telling me you gotta disperse... I'm so sorry.”

Photo: Instagram

Despite the cancellation of the original event, Lorde returned to the park around 9:30 pm and delivered a brief set to the remaining fans. Social media videos show her standing on a platform, performing as attendees cheered and sang along. Footage of the spontaneous moment quickly went viral.

Earlier this month, Lorde teased What Was That in a TikTok video filmed at the same park. The singer also performed at Coachella alongside Charli XCX and discussed her upcoming work in a voice memo shared with fans.