It seems like the album cycle really takes a lot out of Grimes, and late last year, after releasing her weird-pop opus Art Angels — aka the best album of 2015 — she talked in interviews about maybe taking a break from music for a while. Fortunately for us, though, it seems like she’s getting right back to it: In a new Q&A session in the current issue of Rolling Stone, she reveals, “I’m actually halfway done with another record. I’m not committing to anything, but I have a bunch of b-sides I kind of want to finish. Plus, I’ve been making a bit of new music.” Which is all very exciting!

But here’s where things get a little confusing. When asked to describe the direction of the new songs, Grimes says, “With Art Angels, it was all like [growls]. This would be more chill vibes, downtempos, synth-y shit. That makes it sound boring. It’s not boring.” And when asked if that upcoming record is a b-sides album, she explains, “You know how Lana Del Rey put out Paradise Edition after Born To Die? It would be like that. There are songs I seriously considered for Art Angels, but they fucked with the momentum when I tried to put them on the record.”

So if I’m understanding correctly, the b-sides will be packaged as an EP with a reissue of Art Angels, and the synth-y new songs are something totally separate that she’s also working on and will not appear on the record that she’s halfway done with. It’s also a bit unclear if these b-sides are the scrapped version of the album that eventually became Art Angels, which she has said she’ll probably release at some point, or other b-sides that she ended up leaving off of Art Angels later.

But honestly? It doesn’t really matter! The point is, there will soon be more Grimes music in the world, and that is reason enough to rejoice.

UPDATE: Grimes has posted a clarification on her Tumblr, which indicates that no new music is coming soon.

Hey! 🙂

contrary to what some press is saying, I’m not ‘half-way done’ another record, nor will i be playing new music at upcoming shows. Of course im always working on new stuff, but i havent taken even a weekend off in years at this point, and i’ll need to chill when this cycle is over so please don’t set expectations too high.

last time, everyone wanted the visiosn follow up right away and any off-hand comment i made about new material became the weapon by which i was attacked, so to save my self grief i am publicly stating that there is no new music coming any time soon. I really need a break and I intent to take one.

I’m sure this will be referred to as a delay or a lost album or a rant/ screed/ melt down. just fyi, it is none of these things. This is literally nothing besides a ‘clarification’ that new material is not imminent.

much love to y’all 🙂 <3 <3 <3 G