Lorde Vinyl Picture Insert: What Fans Actually Find Inside

You finally tracked down that copy of Melodrama or the new Virgin LP. You slice the plastic, slide the record out, and there it is—the lorde vinyl picture insert. For some, it’s a beautiful piece of art to frame. For others, like those opening her latest 2025 release, it was a genuine "what on earth am I looking at" moment.

Lorde has always been a bit of a weirdo with her packaging. In a good way. She doesn’t just give you a generic lyric sheet and call it a day. She wants you to feel something, even if that something is slightly uncomfortable.

The Virgin Controversy: That NSFW Insert

Let's talk about the elephant in the room. The June 2025 release of her fourth album, Virgin, took the internet by storm. If you bought the vinyl, you didn't just get a record; you got an eight-page insert that features a very high-definition, very zoomed-in photo of the artist's crotch through sheer pants.

People lost it. On X (formerly Twitter), the discourse was a mess. Some fans were thrilled by the "transparency" theme, while others felt like they’d accidentally stumbled into a NSFW subreddit. Honestly, it’s one of the boldest moves a major pop star has made with physical media in years. It wasn't just for shock value, though. Lorde told Rolling Stone that the imagery—which includes X-rays of her pelvis showing an IUD—was about capturing something "techy but mystical."

If you have this insert, you're holding a piece of pop history. It’s polarizing. It’s jagged. It’s very Lorde.

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Melodrama and the Art of the "Photo Insert"

Before the pelvic X-rays, we had the lush, blue world of Melodrama. The deluxe edition of this vinyl is basically the gold standard for fan service. It comes on translucent royal blue wax, but the real treasure is the bi-fold lyric booklet.

Inside, you'll find six double-sided photo inserts.

• The Vibe: Most of these photos were taken by Theo Wenner. They capture that "house party" energy the album is known for.
• The Quality: These aren't flimsy paper scraps. They are high-gloss, heavy-stock prints.
• The Practicality: A lot of fans actually take these out and frame them. They're 12x12, so they fit perfectly into record frames if you want to create a wall of Lorde.

The standard black vinyl version is much more stripped back. If you’re a collector, you’re basically hunting for that royal blue deluxe version just for the extra physical "stuff."

Pure Heroine: Minimalist Beginnings

Going back to 2013, the Pure Heroine vinyl was a much simpler affair. No NSFW surprises here. It features a 12x12 lyric and photo book. It’s very black, very white, and very minimalist—just like the album's production.

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The most sought-after version is the clear vinyl limited to 1,500 copies. The booklet in that one feels a bit more special because of the rarity, but the content is largely the same as the standard gatefold. It's a snapshot of a 16-year-old Ella Yelich-O'Connor before she became the "Contraceptive Queen" of 2025.

Solar Power: The "Bum" Cover and Beyond

We can't talk about inserts without mentioning Solar Power. While the cover itself was the "insert" everyone talked about (the famous beach shot of her jumping over the camera), the vinyl inclusions were surprisingly eco-conscious.

Because Lorde wanted to be "green," she skipped the traditional CD and went hard on the "Music Box" and specific vinyl pressings. The D2C (direct-to-consumer) deluxe vinyl often included a signed insert. These are tiny compared to the Melodrama prints, usually 12-inch squares with a simple signature in the corner. If you find one of these, check for the "Made in Canada" or "Made in France" stickers on the back; the pressings vary slightly in weight and color saturation.

How to Tell if Your Insert is Authentic

Resale markets like Discogs and eBay are flooded with "reproduction" posters. If you’re buying a used copy of Melodrama and the seller says it includes the inserts, look for these signs:

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1. Paper Weight: Real inserts are thick. If it feels like a page from a magazine, it’s a fake.
2. The Spine Code: Check the catalog number on the last page of the booklet. For Pure Heroine, it should match the B0019254-01 code on the spine.
3. Parental Advisory: The 2025 Virgin vinyl specifically has "Adult Images" printed on the hype sticker and the insert itself. If that's missing, you might have a censored version (common in Asian markets).

What to Do With Your Inserts

Don't just leave them in the sleeve. Over time, the ink from high-gloss inserts can actually "ghost" onto the vinyl if it gets too warm, creating a permanent hiss or pop in the audio.

• Store them separately: Keep the inserts in a dedicated folder or frame them.
• Use poly-lined sleeves: If you must keep them in the jacket, make sure the record itself is in an anti-static, poly-lined inner sleeve to prevent contact.
• Avoid sunlight: The blue hues in the Melodrama inserts fade incredibly fast if they’re exposed to direct UV light.

If you're looking to complete your collection, start with the Melodrama Deluxe. It’s the most "complete" feeling package she’s ever released. If you're looking for the shock factor, the Virgin X-ray inserts are the way to go. Just maybe don't show them to your grandma.

Next Steps for Collectors:
Go check the matrix numbers (the etchings near the center hole) of your Melodrama LP. If it says "STERLING" and "RJ," you have the lacquer cut by Ray Janos, which is widely considered the best-sounding version to pair with those high-quality photo inserts.