Hammer (Lorde song)

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"Hammer"
Single by Lorde
from the album Virgin
Released20 June 2025 (2025-06-20)
Length3:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Lorde singles chronology
"Man of the Year"
(2025) 		"Hammer"
(2025) 		"Mind Loaded"
(2025)
Music video
"Hammer" on YouTube

"Hammer" is a song by New Zealand singer and songwriter Lorde. Written and produced by Lorde and Jim-E Stack, the song was released on 20 June 2025 through Universal and Republic Records as the third single from her fourth studio album, Virgin (2025). An accompanying music video, shot in London's Hampstead Heath, was directed by Renell Medrano.

Background

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On 18 June 2025, Lorde announced "Hammer" on social media as the final single before the release of her album Virgin,[1] adding that it serves as the album's opening track.[2][3][4] The song had previously been previewed to fans in a pop-up event in a London carpark building.[5] Ahead of its release, she shared a teaser for the music video, featuring herself with braided pigtails and a pigeon perched on each shoulder. A lyric snippet—"There's a heat in the pavement / My mercury's raising"—was also previewed.[6]

Composition

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"Hammer" was described by Lorde as "an ode to city life and horniness".[2][3][7] Stereogum's Tom Breihan characterized the song as "a swirling, exuberant jam — not quite a dance song, but one that keeps threatening to turn into a dance song at any moment", highlighting its dynamic, dance-adjacent quality.[3]

Music video

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The music video for "Hammer", directed by Renell Medrano, features Lorde "dancing, swimming, and spending time in nature",[2] and includes a variety of scenes such as her getting a butt tattoo in the woods and kissing someone in a car.[8] The video was filmed at Hampstead Heath in London.[6][9]

Critical reception

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Pitchfork described the track as "punchier and more pop" than the previous singles, praising Jim-E Stack's production for its momentum and noting that Lorde delivers the lyrics with urgency and presence.[10] The Fader called the song "a furiously bubbling rush of drums" with "a truly addictive vocal oscillation", emphasizing its sense of release and euphoria. The outlet also highlighted the lyrical imagery, describing it as filled with "flashes of unrestrained euphoria", such as "a fountain's mist hitting the face" and "an impromptu piercing on Canal St".[11]

Charts

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Chart performance for "Hammer"
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[12] 98
Costa Rica Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino)[13] 11
Guatemala Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino)[14] 12
Ireland (IRMA)[15] 68
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 29
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 66
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[18] 20

References

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  1. ^ Dailey, Hannah (21 June 2025). "Lorde Announces Final 'Virgin' Single Before Album Release, Calls It an 'Ode to City Life & Horniness'". Billboard. United States: Penske Media Corporation. ISSN 0006-2510. OCLC 732913734. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Corcoran, Nina (20 June 2025). "Lorde Shares New Song "Hammer": Watch the Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  3. ^ a b c Breihan, Tom (21 June 2025). "Lorde - "Hammer"". Stereogum. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  4. ^ Giandurco, Jillian (20 June 2025). "On "Hammer", Lorde Finds Beauty in Being Horny". Nylon. United States: Bustle Digital Group. ISSN 1524-1750. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  5. ^ Molloy, Laura (8 June 2025). "Lorde surprises London fans by showing up and dancing at 'Virgin' pop-up car park listening party". NME. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  6. ^ a b Downs, Sarah (20 June 2025). "Lorde Shares New Single 'Hammer', Her 'Ode to City Life and Horniness'". Rolling Stone Australia. Austrailia. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  7. ^ Ukiomogbae, Juliana (21 June 2025). "Lorde's 'Hammer' Lyrics Detail the Sound of Her 'Rebirth'". Elle. France: Louis Hachette Group. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  8. ^ Rossignol, Derrick (20 June 2025). "Lorde Gets A Butt Tattoo In The Woods In Her New 'Hammer' Video". Uproxx. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  9. ^ Sources that mention the video, directed by Renell Medrano and filmed in London:
  10. ^ Green, Walden (20 June 2025). "Lorde: "Hammer" Track Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  11. ^ Wang, Steffanee (20 June 2025). "Lorde's "Hammer" is the late-20s anthem". The Fader. New York. ISSN 1533-5194. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  12. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 7 July 2025". The ARIA Report. No. 1844. Australian Recording Industry Association. 7 July 2025. p. 4.
  13. ^ "Top 20 Costa Rica – Anglo – Del 30 de Junio al 6 de Julio, 2025" [Top 20 Costa Rica – English – From 30 June to 6 July, 2025] (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. 7 July 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Top 20 Guatemala Anglo – Del 25 de Junio al 1 de Julio, 2025" [Top 20 Guatemala English – June 25 to July 1, 2025] (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. 2 July 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  15. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts (Week 27, 2025)". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  16. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  17. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  18. ^ "Lorde Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 July 2025.