5 Shocking Secrets Lorde Revealed About The 'Solar Power' Album Cover That Broke The Internet

The iconic, boundary-pushing cover art for Lorde's third studio album, Solar Power, remains one of the most talked-about images in modern pop music today, even as of December 12, 2025. The photograph, which captured the New Zealand singer-songwriter mid-jump from a unique low angle, instantly went viral, sparking a global conversation about spontaneity, body positivity, and the nature of fame. It was a stark departure from the moody, introspective visuals of her previous work, signaling a bold new era for the artist known for her complex lyrical depth.

The image, which candidly features Lorde’s bare legs and buttocks, was quickly classified as one of the most controversial album covers of the 2020s, leading to censorship in various markets, including China. Yet, the story behind the photo—a spontaneous, "sexy, feral" moment captured by a friend—is the key to understanding the entire Solar Power era. This deep dive uncovers the creative team, the philosophical meaning, and the lasting legacy of the image that truly "broke the internet."

Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor: The Artist Profile

Known professionally as Lorde, the artist behind the viral Solar Power cover is Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor. Her career trajectory is one of music's most fascinating transformations, from teenage prodigy to global icon.

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• Full Name: Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor
• Date of Birth: November 7, 1996
• Origin: Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand
• Stage Name Origin: Derived from her fascination with aristocracy, royalty, and the concept of "lords."
• Debut Album: Pure Heroine (2013), which featured the global hit "Royals," winning two Grammy Awards.
• Second Album: Melodrama (2017), a critically acclaimed work exploring the emotional complexities of youth and heartbreak.
• Third Album: Solar Power (2021), a shift toward acoustic, psychedelic pop, focusing on themes of nature, solipsism, and environmentalism.
• Collaborators: Frequently works with producer Jack Antonoff.

The Spontaneous Story Behind the "Sexy, Feral" Photograph

The decision to use a photograph of such intimate spontaneity for a major album release was deliberate, yet the moment itself was entirely unplanned. Lorde wanted the image to reflect the core themes of the album: freedom, the natural world, and a return to a more "feral" self, away from the pressures of fame.

It Was Just Lorde "Jumping Over a Friend"

The singer herself explained the origin of the image during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. She revealed it was a casual, unposed snapshot taken on a beach in New Zealand. Lorde stated: "My friend just took it. It was just me jumping over a friend on a beach." The photo captures a moment of pure, uninhibited summer joy, a stark contrast to the highly stylized, meticulous album art of her previous work, like the painted portrait for Melodrama.

Lorde Confirmed: "It Is My Butt"

The immediate viral success of the cover was fueled by the question of whether the exposed body part was, in fact, the singer's own. Lorde quickly confirmed the speculation, stating, "For those who don't know, it is my butt kind of from below and I'm wearing a yellow bikini bottom." She described the photo as "sexy, feral, and just a little bit crazy," embracing the raw, unpolished nature of the shot. This candidness was central to the entire *Solar Power* aesthetic, which Lorde described in a fan newsletter as a "celebration of the natural world."

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The Creative Team and Censorship Controversy

The creative direction for the album was a collaboration between Lorde (Ella Yelich-O'Connor) and acclaimed art director Hassan Rahim. However, the photograph itself was taken by Lorde's close friend, the artist and photographer Ophelia Mikkelson Jones. The entire visual package, including design by Jonna Mayer and wordmarks by Gustavo Eandi, aimed for a sun-drenched, carefree vibe. Despite this intent, the cover was immediately flagged as controversial album art. The visibility of her bare bottom led to censorship in certain territories, with some music providers in China using an alternate, cropped version of the image. This reaction ironically underscored the album's themes of escaping the modern, hyper-judgmental world.

The Enduring Legacy of the Cover in Lorde's Discography

While the Solar Power album itself received a mixed critical reception upon its August 20, 2021 release, the cover art has cemented its place as a pivotal moment in her career, representing a major stylistic and philosophical pivot. The debate continues to rage among fans and critics, even years later, about its effectiveness.

A Symbol of the "New Me" Era and Transcendentalism

Lorde intended the album to be her "weed album," a collection of psychedelic pop tracks that embraced a slower, more spiritual pace of life. The cover is the ultimate visual representation of this shift. It embodies the themes of transcendentalism and the healing power of nature, where the artist is literally bathed in the sun's glow, shedding the layers of her previous celebrity persona. The spontaneous jump suggests a leap of faith into a more authentic existence, a quest for spirituality that is addressed throughout tracks like "The Path" and "Stoned at the Nail Salon."

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The Cover's Role in the Album's Divisive Reception

Retrospective articles, including those published in 2025, frequently revisit the album's divisive nature. For some, the cover was too casual, failing to capture the conceptual depth that the *Melodrama* cover had achieved. However, others argue that the cover's boldness was its strength, perfectly embodying the album's rejection of polished pop standards. Writer Samuel Maude, in a 2025 piece, described the album as "perhaps her most profound," suggesting the cover was a necessary, unapologetic visual for a work that tackled weighty topics like climate grief and social anxieties.

Topical Authority and Key Entities

The Solar Power era is rich with entities that define its topical authority. Key figures like producer Jack Antonoff, who co-wrote and produced the album, and the themes of solipsism and environmentalism are inseparable from the cover's message. The image’s connection to the New Zealand coastline, the spontaneous nature of its capture by Ophelia Mikkelson Jones, and the resulting controversy over its nudity all contribute to its enduring legacy. It stands as a powerful statement against the rigid expectations placed on female artists, daring to be "feral" and unpolished in a world demanding perfection.