Lorde is sharing her thoughts on her gender identity in a recent interview. The Grammy-winning artist, now 28 years old, revealed that she often feels "in the middle" when it comes to gender. In her new album, Virgin, she sings, "Some days I’m a woman / Some days I’m a man," highlighting her fluid experiences.
In her conversation, Lorde reflected on a discussion with her friend, Chappell Roan. When asked if she identifies as nonbinary, she replied, “I’m a woman except for the days when I’m a man.” She admitted that she struggles to define her identity neatly, wanting to resist being boxed in.
Earlier this year, Lorde experimented with her gender presentation by trying on men’s jeans and sending a picture to her collaborator, Jim-E Stack. He encouraged her to express this version of herself through her music. Additionally, she decided to stop taking birth control for the first time since she was 15, which sparked further reflection on her identity.
Lorde mentioned feeling liberated from the conventional expectations of femininity. By stopping the birth control, she felt she was disconnecting from a regulated image of being a woman. This shift allowed her to explore and express herself in new ways.
One of the tracks on Virgin, titled "Man of the Year," was created as she sat in her living room, imagining what it would be like to visually represent how she feels about her gender. This led her to experiment with duct tape and other elements of her appearance, describing the process as both surprising and intense.
Despite the challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community, including the transgender individuals who are facing political setbacks, Lorde emphasized that she does not view her gender identity as “radical.” She recognizes the bravery of younger individuals who are expressing their identities and supports them, stating that she is in a comparatively safe position as a wealthy, cisgender woman.
The album Virgin is set to be released on June 27, with its first single, "What Was That," already available for listeners.
