Unveiling Vulnerability: Lorde's Journey with PMDD and Eating Disorder During 'Virgin' Album Creation
Lorde shared a letter with her fans, revealing her struggles with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and an eating disorder during the making of her album, Virgin. The letter, released almost a year after the album's debut, accompanied a collection of demo tracks on the streaming platform untitled.stream. In the letter, Lorde discussed her recovery from an eating disorder and her diagnosis of PMDD, a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that affects mood. She also mentioned being on an SSRI and feeling better after googling burnout symptoms.
During the album's creation, Lorde focused on healing and self-liberation, viewing each day of the process as a gift. She found it challenging to speak publicly about the album post-release, describing the experience as raw and exposing. The X-ray images used on the album cover were taken at a medical facility, with Lorde wearing her grandmothers' jewelry during the shoot. She shared her vulnerability while waiting to be scanned, expressing fears of being revealed as flawed. The photographer, Eric Wrenn, reassured her, emphasizing that any version of her was perfect and right.
Lorde's intention with the archival release of demo tracks was to offer a more authentic and revealing glimpse into the creative process, focusing on the journey rather than the finished product. The collection aimed to celebrate the imperfections and repetitions inherent in the creative journey.