Lorde returns to Instagram with an important message

Lorde is ready to bless us with her new album — but only if New Zealanders vote in their upcoming election.

The Kiwi-born singer has been noticeably absent from social media for the last year, but made a surprise return to remind fellow New Zealanders to vote. In NZ, like the USA, voting is not compulsory.

In a series of Instagram stories, Lorde reminded Kiwis to be proactive about the election and even hinted that her new album is just around the corner.

"Are u from New Zealand?," she wrote. "I am."

"If you're 18+, it's time to VOTE!," she wrote over a photo of a beach sunset. "We know we live in a special place. And adding all of our voices to the conversation, speaking up for communities or organisations that mean something to us –– that's what helps keep it that way."

She also added that there are two important referendums that Kiwis can vote in this year: the End of Life Choice Bill and the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill. "Go have a read about each of those and vote on the day!"

"Here are the details," she wrote, adding a link to vote.nz, where people can enrol. "You can vote and enrol from right now up until 7pm on election day."

She then added "Do it for our beautiful country and for me. And next year I'll give you something in return."

Lorde's fans have been eagerly awaiting news of her third album since her second album, Melodrama, came out in 2017.

Back in May, she told fans in an email that she'd have new music for them soon, but it's been radio silence ever since. "I started going back to the studio again in December, just for something to do, and to my surprise, good things came out," she wrote. "Happy, playful things. I felt my melodic muscles flexing and strengthening."