Grimes says delayed album ‘Book 1’ is late due to ‘minor legal stuff’
The artist has also said that music "is a side quest" for her now
By Emma Wilkes
Grimes has explained why her upcoming album Book 1 has not yet seen the light of day.
The artist confirmed on Twitter that she “knows” the follow-up to 2020’s Miss Anthropocene is “so late” and clarified that “minor legal stuff” has held up its release.
She added that she sees “fame and notoriety” as a “unique hell”. “Not to say life isn’t blessed and my GOD ten time better = I’m the luckiest girl on earth, but do I want the attention an album brings? 100% nooo (with all due respect),” she continued.
“Ofc I’ll still release BOOK 1 & more. I owe y’all, the artists life is blessed and I take that seriously. But! My fam, best friends, and babies get dragged in no matter what i do, the narrative doesn’t belong to me. my friends/ fam r my whole Life – this is their battle too.
Grimes, whose real name is Claire Boucher, also said that she would feel more able to make more music if she had “reduced pressure” and “increased freedom”.
“I’ll always release music but if it hasn’t been clear; music is my side quest now. Tbh reduced pressure x increased freedom = prob more music just ideally ‘Low key’ [sic]. I’ll always do my best to entertain whilst depleting my literal reputation I hope that’s ok I love y’all.”
She previously made similar comments in late 2021, saying she would “change her main day job” once Book 1 was released [via NME].
Back in September, Grimes confirmed that Book 1 was finished and she was waiting for it to be mixed. It is set to be the first instalment of a double album, with the second titled Book 2. The album reportedly takes place in the distant future when consciousness can be uploaded into a robotic body and will feature a Cymek antihero who Grimes has referred to as “the dark king”. It’s also set to offer a cyberpunk twist on Swan Lake.
Since her last album, she has founded an AI girl group called NPC, who released their debut single ‘A Drug From God’ in late 2021.