Grimes addresses Book 1 album delay amid rumours of label split: "Do I want the attention it brings?"

Grimes has addressed the frequent delays of her new album, Book 1, amid rumours that she has split from her record label, Columbia.

The alt-pop singer - real name Claire Boucher - took to Twitter to apologise to her fans on the constant pushback on her sixth album, which was due to be released this year and preceded by an EP, Fairies Cum First, which never materialised. 

"I know Book 1 is so late," Grimes said in a series of tweets. "Reason is minor legal stuff, but moreso...fame and notoriety is a unique hell.

"Not to say life isn't blessed and my God [isn't it] ten times better [...] I'm the luckiest girl on earth. But do I want the attention an album brings? 100% no (with all due respect)."

Read Grimes' tweets in full below:

I know BOOK 1 is so late
reason is minor legal stuff, but moreso… fame and notoriety is 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)

— 𝔊𝔯𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 (@Grimezsz) January 4, 2023

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 (@Grimezsz) January 4, 2023

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
I’ll always do my best to entertain whilst depleting my literal reputation I hope that’s ok I love y’all 🙏🏻💚

— 𝔊𝔯𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 (@Grimezsz) January 4, 2023

Free in a few wks

— 𝔊𝔯𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 (@Grimezsz) January 4, 2023

MORE: Grimes' Official Chart history in full

Throughout the thread, Grimes replied directly to some users who had questions. One asked what the current situation was with her label, Sony subsidiary Columbia, and Grimes seemed to confirm that the "minor legal stuff" was linked to the dissolution of her contract with the label, something that should be sorted "in a few weeks."

Grimes' split from Columbia now seems to be confirmed, as she's no longer listed as an artist on the label's website. She was one of a few high-profile signings from the label in 2021, which also included Miley Cyrus (who is due to release her first new music in nearly three years under Columbia this month).

It took many by surprise that Grimes, who had so-far released all of her critically acclaimed alt-pop albums through an indie label, 4AD, signed with a major for new music. Teaming up with The Weeknd collaborator Illangelo, however, Grimes dropped two of her most pop-leaning singles to date under new deal, the electronica break-up anthem Player of Games and EDM banger Shinigami Eyes. 

Further down the thread, Grimes did placate fans by confirmed that "I will [of course] release Book 1 and more [...] but my family, my friends get dragged in no matter what I do [...] I'll always release music  but if it hasn't been clear - music is my side quest now."

Of course, it would be remiss to not acknowledge that this tabloid attention Grimes mentions stems from her controversial relationship with Tesla founder and now-Twitter CEO, Elon Musk, the father of her two children. 

Across one of the most singular and interesting careers in pop music, Grimes has slowly but steadily been making her way into the mainstream culture for the past half a decade. In 2020, her fourth album Miss Anthropocene became her first UK Top 10 album

Late last year, Grimes also hinted that her long-awaited collaboration with The Weeknd, Sci-Fi, was close to being released, now of course this is called into question. 

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