Grimes shares new song and video “Shinigami Eyes”

Grimes has never been one to mince words. Discussing her new track on today's episode of Apple Music's Zane Lowe Show, she revealed that releasing it was more Columbia Records' decision than her own.

"I always say a bunch of stupid shit and get in trouble, but either way, this is the label executive decision song," she told Lowe. "I love the record, but...everyone's like, what's the deeper meaning? And it's like, well, Nino Angelo...had just watched Death Note and really liked it. Basically, I wrote the whole space opera thing and this is the only song that wasn't this big narrative plot. Anyway, I actually do really like the song. Sorry. I'm just undermining the marketing strategy."

PR maneuver or not, "Shinigami Eyes" is true to Grimes' aesthetic. "Are you ready to die? / Got my Shinigami eyes on," she repeats in the chorus, and the notion that her piercing stare could kill someone doesn't feel far fetched. Her characteristically wild video blends uncanny valley realism with fantastical elements: wings, a light saber, interstellar archery, the works.

On The Zane Lowe Show, she discussed her forthcoming double album, as well as a potential EP's worth of songs — including the new one — that don't quite fit into its expansive tracklist. She also discussed her recent statements on wanting to retire from music:

"I think I'm always looking for the exit," she said. "I'm just getting really excited about lots of other things. And every time I've gone down some crazy path over the last couple years, it's been really fun and really successful. And it's like, the more music feels like a hobby and the more that we've got all these other schemes going on… one of the things I really want to do is a decentralized girl group. An open source kind of thing."

Watch the "Shinigami Eyes" video above.