Lorde’s latest single, “Liability,” opens with a stirring piano solo that leads into introspective vocals unprecedented by the femme-fatale pop sound that characterized her first album, Pure Heroine. The lyrics explore the singer’s relationship with herself and the impact that her post-Pure Heroine stardom has had on her relationships with others.
The revelation of this softer, more personal side of Lorde was influenced by her co-writer on this track, Bleachers’ Jack Antonoff. Antonoff’s music is frequently distinguishable by meaningful lyrics and slower melodies, which come in stark contrast to Lorde’s detached style of dance-pop. After its release, Lorde accredited the song’s moving vibe to Antonoff stating in in a tweet that “this song freaked and grossed [her] out at first.”
Shortly after sharing the new single, Lorde announced that her latest album, Melodrama, will release on June 16th, 2017.