Lorde premiered her new single 'What Was That' in New York's Washington Square Park Tuesday, two hours after police had shut down the gathering.

As Charli XCX bids farewell to brat summer, it’s Lorde ’s turn to kick-start a new musical era and be the face of summer 2025. The Grammy winner brought fans together to debut her latest track, “What Was That,” in Washington Square Park in New York City before it officially drops on Friday, April 25.

However, it turns out Lorde didn’t get a permit for this particular gathering, and the event was promptly shut down by police. “A sound and parks permit is required to have a concert in a New York City Park,” an NYPD officer told Vulture. “This individual did not possess either.”