Grimes feels like she's about to go from indie darling to mega pop star any day now following the release of her critically acclaimed album Art Angels, and nowhere is that more evidenced than watching her first dominating live performance of the Janelle Monáe collaborative single "Venus Fly" at a show in Atlanta.
The recorded song is a standout on the album, even before you realize that's Janelle Monáe responsible for the lyrics. "Venus Fly" has an infectious deep bass, club beat that is primed for college parties and dark dance bars, not to mention that inescapable looping hook, "Why you looking at me."
But get these two artists performing the song live and the club banger takes on a whole new level of energy. Dancers tried to pump up the crowd from the start but the crowd gets visibly and audibly more wild once Monáe takes the stage. Lights flash, bass rattles and the two artists trade off verses and dance moves for a performance that transitions her from introspective electronic artist to pop hits maker.
Art Angels hasn't shown up on the Billboard charts yet, but given its almost unanimously glowing reviews from the likes of Pitchfork and Arcade Fire's Will Butler, as well as celebrity crossover singles such as "Venus Fly," it seems like Grimes is bound for greater things this year. The album is Grimes' follow-up to 2012's critically acclaimed debut album Visions.
The Canadian artist has nine more North American tour dates through November before taking off on a string of international dates that will take her through to March of next year.
[h/t Pitchfork]
