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Porter Robinson and Ninajirachi release debut collaboration “WannaCry,” citing creative cross-genre surprise
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Culture/The Apex Times/Jul 31, 3:29 PM EDT

Porter Robinson and Ninajirachi release debut collaboration “WannaCry,” citing creative cross-genre surprise

The producers describe a first-time studio pairing built on mutual influence, with Robinson saying he is hearing from listeners who did not expect to connect to the track.

2 min readEditor-approved Apex article

Porter Robinson and Ninajirachi have released “WannaCry,” a debut collaboration that both artists described as a culmination of each other’s influence, according to an interview published by Billboard on July 31, 2026. Robinson, speaking about the project’s unexpected reach, said he has been receiving messages from listeners “I didn’t even think would like it,” framing the response as one of the most striking outcomes of the song’s release.

In the Billboard interview, Robinson and Ninajirachi characterized their partnership as rooted in admiration rather than planned industry matchmaking. Billboard reported that the song reflects Ninajirachi being influenced by Robinson’s work, while Robinson in turn said he felt “inspired and understood” by Ninajirachi’s music.

Ninajirachi’s role in the collaboration is presented in the interview as more than just a featured presence. Billboard describes the track as emerging from a creative feedback loop, with both artists crediting the other’s artistic direction for shaping how “WannaCry” sounds and how it was approached in the studio.

The release also arrives as both artists continue to maintain distinct but overlapping audiences within electronic music. Billboard’s coverage positions “WannaCry” as a meeting point between styles that can be difficult to predict in audience crossover, and it emphasizes the artists’ comments about fan reaction as evidence that the blend landed beyond their immediate core listeners.

While the interview centers on the artists’ creative exchange, the immediate public-facing result is the availability of a new, jointly credited track under Robinson and Ninajirachi branding. The collaboration’s significance is therefore tied to distribution and discovery, since new cross-artist material can affect how fans explore other artists’ back catalogs and how streaming and playlist systems route attention.

The artists’ stated takeaways in Billboard’s report highlight two themes that are common in electronic and producer-led releases: the importance of peer influence and the real-world challenge of forecasting listener reception. Robinson’s remark about messages from unexpected fans is presented as the clearest example of that, with the interview framing audience reaction as broader than what either artist may have anticipated.

Billboard did not indicate any additional project details beyond the song’s release in its report, but the interview suggests the collaboration itself is the centerpiece for now, with the artists using it to document a creative convergence rather than to launch a larger rollout narrative.

As of the July 31, 2026 publication date of Billboard’s interview, “WannaCry” is described as out now. The next public milestones for the collaboration, such as live performances, remix activity, or follow-up releases, were not specified in the provided coverage.

Why It Matters

  • A first-time collaboration between two electronic-focused artists can shift how each fan base discovers the other, affecting streaming and playlist discovery paths.
  • The artists’ comments about unexpected listener response underscore that audience reach for cross-genre collaborations can expand beyond initial expectations.
  • Because “WannaCry” is presented as out now, listeners have immediate access to the joint work, which can shape short-term engagement metrics tied to new releases.
  • The interview’s emphasis on peer influence provides a documented example of how producer-to-producer inspiration can translate into commercially distributed output.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Porter Robinson and Ninajirachi released their debut collaboration “WannaCry,” according to Billboard.
  • Billboard reported that Robinson said he is receiving messages from listeners who he did not expect would like the track.
  • Billboard described the collaboration as reflecting Ninajirachi being influenced by Robinson and Robinson feeling inspired and understood by Ninajirachi’s work.
  • Billboard’s interview framing emphasizes mutual creative influence and unexpected audience crossover.
  • Billboard characterized “WannaCry” as out now as of its July 31, 2026 coverage.