Lorde Makes Surprise Appearance at Aotearoa Music Awards

The appearance came hours after hosting an intimate, invite-only performance inside a local YMCA bathroom.

Lorde
Michael Buckner
Lorde returned to the spotlight in New Zealand this week, appearing at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards in Auckland on Thursday night (May 29), just hours after hosting an intimate, invite-only performance inside a YMCA bathroom.

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The rare public appearance comes as Lorde ramps up promo for her upcoming album Virgin, due out June 27. Her attendance at the AMAs — New Zealand’s biggest night in music — marks her first red carpet appearance in the country in several years.

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The day prior, Lorde teased a cryptic Instagram post showing a cracked iPhone tucked into the waistband of a pair of jeans, tagged “Auckland.” The post included a link to a WhatsApp group, where she invited fans to meet her in the city that night.

“Auckland I wanna play you something .. Meet me in the city tonight? Message me if you’re keen,” she wrote.

More than 300 fans gathered outside the YMCA venue, with small groups of 30 admitted every 15 minutes to witness the pop-up performance.

The performance came one day before the release of Lorde’s new single “Man of the Year,” which follows previous track “What Was That.” Both songs will appear on Virgin, her first album since 2021’s Solar Power.

Lorde’s innovative approach to album promotion has included surprise concerts, fan text blasts, and spontaneous performances in public spaces. In April, she debuted “What Was That” in New York City’s Washington Square Park, drawing such a large crowd that the police shut it down. She performed again in the same location just a few hours later.

Several early winners were announced at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards ahead of the main ceremony, including MOKOTRON (Best Electronic Artist), Cassie Henderson (Best Pop Artist), and Holly Arrowsmith (Best Folk Artist).

Lorde’s debut album Pure Heroine peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, with lead single “Royals” spending nine weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her 2017 LP Melodrama debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and earned a Grammy nomination for album of the year. Solar Power, released in 2021, debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200.

Virgin arrives June 27 via Universal Music New Zealand.