Porter Robinson and Ninajirachi have detailed the spontaneous creative process behind their collaborative single “WannaCry,” which was released on July 28 through I Love Cats and NLV Records. Speaking in a recent interview about their first studio pairing, the electronic artists revealed how a simple direct message bridged their shyness and resulted in an energetic, internet-influenced track that has resonated deeply with global listeners.
The collaboration took root earlier this year when Robinson sent Ninajirachi a direct message inviting her to make music. Following her meteoric rise over the past year and her opening slot on Robinson’s 2025 Australian tour, Ninajirachi traveled to Robinson’s studio in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in early February. According to the artists, the initial studio session moved quickly as they traded ideas, eventually returning to a sketch that Robinson had brought to the table.
“The idea I came to you with,” Robinson said during the interview, “I almost wasn’t sure that I wanted to show you — because I’ve had people be like ‘I made this and it made me think of you,’ and I felt like, ‘Ooh, that didn’t excite me.’”
Ninajirachi responded positively to the initial melody, helping to refine the structure and production. Robinson credited his collaborator with salvaging and reshaping the track’s low-end frequencies. “This is technical, but my bass sound was just kind of whack, and Nina changed it into this amorphous flowing thing and added all these insane glitches and made the whole breakdown of the song and all the soft parts and the chorus,” Robinson explained.
The Conceptual Origin of ‘WannaCry’
The single takes its title and thematic inspiration from the 2017 ransomware attack, blending technological motifs with emotional resonance. Robinson noted that he was drawn to the double virality of infamous computer threats, drawing comparisons to the year 2000’s ILOVEYOU virus. He observed that such names carry both literal self-reproducing infection mechanics and a catchy, contemporary cultural spread.
Ninajirachi added that the concept evolved to view the narrative from the perspective of the virus itself, imagining a scenario where it has multiplied across every available computer and reaches the end of its lifecycle. The duo first debuted the track during Ninajirachi’s set at Coachella in April, designing the song specifically to function as a high-energy live track for dance floors and festivals.
A Shared Legacy in Electronic Music
For Ninajirachi, working alongside Robinson marks a full-circle moment after growing up listening to his catalog in Australia. Recalling the first time she attended a major concert, she described experiencing Robinson’s live show as a formative teenager. Robinson, meanwhile, expressed admiration for Ninajirachi’s recent work, including her album I Love My Computer, praising her ability to balance emotional vulnerability with high-energy instrumentals.
Both artists noted that the single’s immediate reception has surpassed expectations. Robinson reported receiving positive messages from unexpected peers, while Ninajirachi expressed astonishment at the widespread sharing the track has received since its July release. Fans and industry observers can stream “WannaCry” across major digital music platforms.
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