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The Paris Review Daily ·Smart escape

Grimes’s Secret Psy Opera Pop-Up

by Paul McAdory

Published 2026-10-13 14:00:47+00:00

Why does a pop star obsessed with the future still need a crowded room to feel forgiven?

0:00 / 15:27 · Narrator Gacrux

Context

Writing on 13 October 2026, Paul McAdory heads to a Brooklyn backyard to catch a surprise DJ set by the pop star Grimes. The musician has spent the last few years alienating her original fanbase through her ties to tech billionaires and a string of chaotic public statements. As she prepares to release her first album in six years, the piece watches her try to pull off a difficult trick. When a beloved artist has thoroughly exhausted her audience, can she win them back just by pressing play?

Show notes

An account of a surprise Brooklyn DJ set by the musician Grimes, marking her return to public performance ahead of a new double album. The writer observes the crowd's mixed feelings about her recent controversies and secures an impromptu backstage interview. In the conversation, Grimes details her new style, her upcoming written manifesto, and her frustrations with tech culture.

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