aespa and Grimes Team-Up For Space-Age ‘Supernova’ Remix: Listen

K-pop girl group aespa blast off into space with a new Grimes-assisted remix of their hit single “Supernova.” The song from the four-woman group’s debut studio album, Armageddon – The 1st Album, gets an intergalactic brush-up as part of a six-track remix EP that dropped on Friday (Sept. 20), iScreaM Vol. 33 ” Supernova / Armageddon Remixes.

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In an X post, Grimes explained why she stepped out of her typical lane for the project. “I normally don’t do remixes but I could not resist messing with this accapella even tho the original production on this song is undefeatable,” Grimes wrote. “I went back to cyber twee for this and even had @angelfir_e sit behind me and stop me every time I tried to overthink the production so… it’s very grimesy.”

She’s not kidding. While the original track from KARINA, GISELLE, WINTER AND NINGNING was a snappy, hyper dance pop banger, in Grimes’ hands it gets a firmware update with chilly, metallic beats, Grimes’ signature alien chirp sped-up vocals, celestial harmonies and new wave keyboards.

In addition, on Instagram Grimes said sorry/not sorry for changing the song’s alluring chorus and drilling down on a lyric she was entranced by. “I know I changed the hook but I was so shook by the lyric ‘bring no light of a dying star’ that was casually in there. Felt like it needed a moment,” she wrote. Grimes also posted a series of pics with the group in which she rocks a futuristic jumpsuit and sparkly red glasses. “rip the old grimes she wud have loved dis,” she wrote alongside the snaps.

In addition to the Grimes “Supernova” remix, the EP features three new remixes of the album’s title track — by Flava D, 2Spade and Mount XLR — as well as the original versions of the title track and “Supernova.” On X, Grimes revealed that she did her own “Armageddon” remix as well, noting, “idk if they want it but I could ask. I also have a second supernova remix that’s kinda good but my baby destroyed the computer it was on so it’s unmixable.”

iScreaM Vol. 33 is part of a four-year-old series from SM’s EDM label ScreaM Records featuring remixes of songs by SM artists that has perviously featured revamps of tracks from NCT 127, SHINee, Red Velvet, Taeyeon, Girls’ Generation and others. Armageddon – The 1st Album debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart in July, marking the quartet’s fifth project to debut in the top 10 on that tally.

Listen to Grimes’ “Supernova” remix and see her statement below.

Gil Kaufman

Billboard