Lorde has hinted that she could be set to release new music next year while encouraging her fans in New Zealand to vote in the upcoming election.

The Kiwi pop star’s latest record, ‘Melodrama’, came out in 2017 to huge critical acclaim. In a five-star review, NME hailed it as “a rudely excellent album full of brilliant songs”.

As Pop Crave point out, Lorde – aka Ella Yelich-O’Connor – has tonight (October 7) broken her Instagram silence in a bid to highlight the importance of taking to the polls in New Zealand on October 17.

.@Lorde hints at releasing new music next year if fans in New Zealand vote in upcoming election:

“Do it for our beautiful country…And next year I’ll give you something in return.” pic.twitter.com/M5KaKJIxkR

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) October 7, 2020

Towards the end of her stories, Lorde posted the message: “Do it for our beautiful country and for me. And next year I’ll give you something in return.”

As a result, fans online soon began speculating that Lorde’s highly-anticipated third album could be coming at some point in 2021.

“Lorde really dropping new music next year if we vote,” one fan tweeted. “Bitch I’m already at the ballots.” Another said: “We need new Lorde music NOW.”

You can see those posts and more reactions below.

lorde really dropping new music next year if we vote ? bitch i’m already at the ballots pic.twitter.com/kS4L1Y6An0

— spring (@azealiawtf) October 7, 2020

we need new lorde music NOW pic.twitter.com/ALZOFrXno6

— ART (@doom__days) October 7, 2020

LORDE TEASED WHAT?? NEW MUSIC?? HOLD ME pic.twitter.com/uhY9NdXKVY

— julia (@chaelinagb) October 7, 2020

me omw to new zealand to vote so lorde can release her album pic.twitter.com/0DLeuYTkdC

— ? (@surimiel) October 7, 2020

NEW LORDE MUSIC NEXT YEAR OMG I LOVE IT HERE

— cande (@bemysmistake) October 7, 2020

lorde is coming to save us with a new album i can’t believe this

— rafa ☽ (@givenawalls) October 7, 2020

This is also a Lorde appreciation account – everyone in NZ go out and vote so we have a better future and a new Lorde album, ok? pic.twitter.com/U5hmdixI82

— Angelore ? FOLKLORE woman (@tswiftlovestor1) October 7, 2020

me whenever Lorde teases new music: pic.twitter.com/ponv1zvAYV

— B. Gay (@bgay4real) October 7, 2020

can’t wait for Lorde to keep her promise and release new music on December 31 at 11:59pm 2021 pic.twitter.com/OKhD763o6n

— captain f*g (@captainfaq) October 7, 2020

Elsewhere in her thread of posts, Lorde urged her followers to research the End Of Life Choice Bill and the Cannabis Legalisation And Control Bill referendums.

“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 wrote.

Back in May, Lorde offered an update on the progress of her new material. “The work is so fucking good, my friend,” she said. “I am truly jazzed for you to hear it.”

The singer also revealed that she’d been working with ‘Melodrama’ producer Jack Antonoff between Los Angeles and Auckland prior to the coronavirus crisis: “Jack and I FaceTimed for over an hour this morning going over everything. But it’ll take a while longer.”