Celebrity

Jai Paul Emerges From the Shadows, Somewhat

When Jai Paul’s collection of demos leaked online in 2013, it had the makings of a celebration rather than a catastrophe. Paul had previously released two of his hottest singles, and expectations were high for his music. The songs in that collection were widely shared and loved. However, rather than capitalize on the goodwill created by the unintended release, Paul stepped back and rarely made public appearances or appearances for the next decade.

This year he is back. First at Coachella he gave two performances, then in New York where he headlined his two smaller concerts. He was shy and a little awkward on stage, but the music he played was sure. It wasn’t clear if that was the end of his prequel, or a prelude to a new era.

This week’s popcast talks about Paul’s anti-career trajectory, fans’ continued enthusiasm for him even in his absence, and how internet mysteries have changed over the past few decades.

The guests:

  • Lindsay Zoladz, pop music critic for The New York Times and author of The Amplifier newsletter

  • Jia Tolentino, staff writer for The New Yorker

Connect to popcast. Be Part of the Popcast Community: Join the Show facebook group and cacophony channelWe would love to hear from you! Send us your feedback at popcast@nytimes.com. Follow host Jon Caramanica on Twitter. @joncaramanica.

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