See footage of Lorde performing a surprise show in Washington Square Park

Yesterday evening, a wild little rumor started swirling: Lorde—the 28-year-old alt-pop luminary with a flair for the unexpected—was allegedly staging a surprise show in Washington Square Park at 7pm. Word spread like wildfire and, by sunset, hundreds of fans had descended on the downtown Manhattan landmark, hoping to catch a glimpse (and a live set) from the New Zealand-born star.

And for a moment, it felt like it might actually happen.

But just as the clock struck 7pm, Lorde took to Instagram to deliver a bit of a heartbreak.

“I am truly AMAZED by how many of you showed up!!!” she wrote in her Instagram Story. “But they’re telling me you gotta disperse… I’m so sorry.”

Some fans, understandably bummed, made their way out. But many stayed put. It was, after all, a gorgeous, almost-summer night in the park, and something about it all just felt too electric to end there.

Then came the twist: at some point, Dev Hynes—of Blood Orange fame, who has reportedly collaborated with Lorde on her upcoming fourth studio album (release date still hush-hush)—rolled up with a portable speaker in tow blasting “What Was That,” Lorde’s latest single.

And then, at 9pm, just when you thought it was over—she appeared. Lorde wove through the crowd like some magical indie-pop apparition, performing the track live, dancing alongside fans who had stuck around. It wasn’t the show anyone expected, but it was the kind of spontaneous, only-in-New-York moment that makes stories worth telling.

Whether you missed it, left early or are just a little nosy (no judgment), here’s some footage of the impromptu pop-up—a chaotic, unforgettable love letter to the city and its die-hard music fans: