Realiti (Grimes song)

"REALiTi" is a song by Canadian synthpop artist Grimes, originally slated for release on her scrapped fourth album, released as a YouTube video on March 8, 2015^[1] as a thank you to her fans in Asia.

Composition

Grimes originally intended the song to be released on her abandoned fourth album. She claims it to only be a demo that was recorded in early 2013, and that she has lost the original Ableton file, so it was never mixed and mastered. The version from the video was taken from an mp3 file that she tried to doctor in a listenable state.^[2]

Music video

The video was shot by Grimes herself, and shows footage taken during her tour in Asia.^[1]

Critical reception

Despite being only a demo, "REALiTi" was critically acclaimed. MTV says that after listening to the song, "you’ll be wondering why Grimes left the track off her album".^[3] Stereogum agreed, saying that "REALiTi" was "a very good new song" and that "if she's willing to toss great songs like these into the ether, then when is she coming with something official?".^[4] The Atlantic notes that the song "is as good as anything on the radio" and goes on to claim that "the song is fabulous" and adds that the recording-quality issues don't prevent the song from sounding better than anything on the radio.^[5] Pitchfork Media claims the song is the best new Grimes release since Visions and calls it a "compelling step forth", which "absorbs EDM and trance in Boucher's seemingly infinite palette of sound".^[6]

The reaction to the song online was so positive that Grimes said she would consider adding it to her new album, although she believes she has "better".^[7]

References