Grimes on Hatsune Miku Collab and Art

Musician and producer Grimes has released a new single, "Miku-Maxxing," in collaboration with the virtual performer Hatsune Miku and Japanese Vocaloid producer SatapanP. The track is the opening single for the forthcoming compilation EMERGE MODE MIKU, which launches as part of Dwango's BEYOND BORDERS program connecting Japanese Vocaloid creators with US-based talent.

A music video for the song accompanies the release. It depicts a lone protagonist navigating a chaotic digital realm called Cyberland alongside Hatsune Miku. The visual piece blends pixelated low-poly graphics with textured animation and mixed-media design.

The EMERGE MODE MIKU Project

The full EMERGE MODE MIKU project features a range of musical contributors. The track "Miku-Maxxing" is available to stream now, with additional singles arriving before the full EP releases in September.

Grimes on Collaboration and Authenticity

In an interview with Hypebae, Grimes shared candid thoughts on the collaboration. When asked about hearing her voice next to Miku's, she remarked, "She has a prettier voice than me."

Reflecting on the limits of human artistry compared to a digital entity, Grimes stated, "The specter of death haunts me." She described feeling "all too human" and "all too mortal" in the face of an ageless avatar. "I see Miku and myself, perhaps I have vitality, but at what cost? What am I but meat?" she said.

Grimes argued that people want art that is honest, which she said is very hard to achieve with digital characters. She credited Hatsune Miku's longevity, noting, "It’s not just the output but the time Miku has spent with us that makes her more valuable than many digital avatars."

Distinguishing Art from Art Machines

Discussing authenticity in internet culture, Grimes expressed a shift in her views. "I was one of the original poptimists, but I am really eating my words with that lately," she told the source. She argued for a necessary distinction between capital A Artists and what she termed "art machines" and projects by big labels.

Grimes emphasized the need to make more room for folk art in serious art discourse. She framed the core difference not as one of authenticity, but of intent. "There is art that exists to make money and art that exists because the artist has no other choice but to make it," she said. After years of touring and experiencing fame, Grimes decided she would only return to art if engaged in the latter category. The project with Hatsune Miku represents her latest exploration within that self-imposed framework.