A decade ago, Ninajirachi was standing in the crowd at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre watching Porter Robinson play what would become her first-ever concert. Earlier this month she returned to that same stage to headline a sold-out Dark Crystal V show. Now, the two producers have released their first collaboration, ‘WannaCry’, bringing together artists whose careers have been shaped by a shared fascination with computer music, internet culture and electronic pop that refuses to stand still.
The track pairs Ninajirachi’s intricate, high-definition production with Robinson’s melodic songwriting, taking its unlikely inspiration from the infamous 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack. Rather than dwelling on the virus itself, the song imagines its perspective, turning a piece of digital history into something unexpectedly tender and strangely human. It’s an unusual concept, but one that sits comfortably within the creative worlds both artists have spent years building.
For Ninajirachi, the release continues a remarkable run following her debut album, I Love My Computer. Released via NLV Records, the record established her as one of Australia’s most inventive electronic producers, earning widespread acclaim alongside three ARIA Awards, including Best Solo Artist, Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist and Best Independent Release. The past year has also seen her make her Coachella debut, share stages with PinkPantheress, underscores and Oklou, and sell out the biggest Australian headline shows of her career through the Dark Crystal series.
Robinson, meanwhile, has spent more than a decade quietly reshaping modern electronic music. From the breakthrough of Worlds and the enduring success of Shelter with Madeon, through the introspective Nurture and most recently SMILE! 😀, he has consistently expanded his sound without losing the melodic sensibility that first made him stand out. Along the way have come Grammy recognition, major festival appearances and headline performances everywhere from Red Rocks and the Hollywood Bowl to London’s Brixton Academy and Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion.
‘WannaCry’ arrives just as Ninajirachi prepares for appearances at Lollapalooza and Hinterland Music Festival, extending a period that has seen her profile grow well beyond Australia. The collaboration doesn’t feel like an unexpected crossover so much as the convergence of two artists who have long drawn inspiration from the same digital spaces, now finally translating that shared language into a song of their own.
Stream it HERE.
