Lorde has opened up about her evolving gender identity, describing how she once felt confined by traditional femininity and has since found freedom in exploring a more fluid sense of self.
In a candid interview with BBC Radio 1, the New Zealand artist reflected on how her relationship with gender has shifted over time.
“I felt so trapped and so tight in this very kind of straight-ahead femininity,” she said.
Known for her introspective lyrics and genre-pushing pop, she explained that her personal journey began with small moments of discomfort, particularly around the expectation to present in traditionally female-coded ways.
“Some days that will feel so tight and I’ll feel so trapped,” she continued, recalling the pressure to wear only women’s clothing on set. “The same with my make-up. I say to people now just treat it like male grooming. Don’t overcook it. Because the same thing happens. I get all stuck and tight and I can’t express myself.”
Earlier this year, Lorde (real name Ella Yelich-O’Connor) told Rolling Stone that she identifies “as a woman except for the days when I’m a man,” and described feeling “in the middle gender-wise.” Her latest comments expand on that, suggesting that her understanding of gender continues to evolve rather than settle into a fixed identity.
A work in progress
Though she admits she hasn’t “landed anywhere” in terms of a clear gender identity, Lorde described the process of exploration as “expansive” and liberating.
“My definition of what’s beautiful is really different now. I think it will just keep unfurling and I’m down for that.”
The comments arrive just weeks after the release of her fourth studio album Virgin, which dropped in late June. Though she hasn’t directly tied the album’s themes to her gender journey, fans and critics alike have noted a deeper sense of vulnerability and self-interrogation in the lyrics.
