Detour (Kim Petras album)

Petras, who pioneered the hyperpop genre along with fellow trans woman Sophie, released Feed the Beast in 2023, which was unsuccessful commercially and critically.^[2] Whilst on a tour promoting it, she told fans she was already working on her next album. In a 2024 interview with Paper she stated that the album was "definitely going to be really different for me".^[3] After finding herself churning out pop songs she found uninspiring, she booked nighttime sessions with hyperpop producers Frost Children and Margo XS, with whom she made music inspired by lowbrow electronic dance music.^[2]

Prior to the album's release, Petras publicly alleged that her label Republic Records had delayed both the project and its associated singles despite the album having been completed months earlier. In January 2026, Petras posted on X that she had requested to be released from the label due to frustrations over a lack of creative and professional control, and also claimed that a self-funded music video for "Need for Speed" had remained unreleased for more than two months.^[4]

On 27 June 2025, Petras released "Polo" as the lead single, stating it was "the first song that kinda reset all of the music I was working on."^[5] "Freak It" was subsequently released on 25 July. Petras released a vertical music video via her social media for the track on 12 November.^[6] "I Like Ur Look" was surprise-released on 14 October as the third single alongside a music video.^[7] Petras held listening parties for the album in Paris in November 2025 and Los Angeles in March 2026.^[8]

After months of label issues and delays, Petras announced an EP titled Pretour in February 2026. Each song would release every week only on her social media, YouTube, and SoundCloud, starting 10 February with "Pop Sound". The four track EP has features from BC Kingdom and Cortisa Star. Petras stated these songs were not on Detour, writing on X, "These songs are what led me to writing Detour, I love them so much but they are their own separate thing." Petras also stated she still did not have a release date for Detour.^[9]

Petras left Republic sometime in April and released "Need for Speed" as the album's fourth single on 22 April via her own label, BunHead, and Amigo,^[10] followed by its Ashley Hood-directed music video.^[11] "Jeep" was released two weeks later as the fifth single. Petras performed the song on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on 8 May.^[12] On 21 May, Petras unveiled the release date and cover for Detour via her social media.^[13]

The album was released on 29 May,^[14][15] with a music video for the track "Brutalist" the same day.^[16] "Brutalist" was inspired by her experiences driving past the Post-Pyramide in Hamburg on her way to appointments for her gender-affirming care.^[17] Among the tracks on the album was "Basketball", which dates back to 2019 and was posthumously co-produced by Sophie, who had died in 2021.^[18][2]

"DTLA" and "101" features sexual lyrics and "aggressive" synthesizers and vocal tone. "I Like Ur Look" taps into Y2K nostalgia while "Polo" references social status via fashion.^[19] "Brutalist" is about her childhood wounds. "Need for Speed" has a dance-pop sound while "Jeep" sings about the pain of heartbreak over an acoustic melody.^[20] On "Korea," Petras sings about her career struggles, twisting the pronunciation of career.^[1]

More information Review scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
IZM	[20]
Pitchfork	7.6/10[1]
Riff Magazine	10/10[19]
Rolling Stone	[21]
The Needle Drop	7/10[22]

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Harry Tafoya of Pitchfork rated the album 7.6 out of 10, writing that the album is Petras' "true artistic debut" with her "swerving between noisy club bangers and newly subtle pop gems". Tafoya added that "Brutalist" is her "greatest song to date".^[1] Vera Maksymiuk of Riff Magazine rated the album 10 out of 10, writing that the album is her best work and a "catalyst for breaking free".^[19] Larisha Paul of Rolling Stone rated the album 3.5 out of 5 stars, writing that she "finds a path forward with new producers and a clear vision for the future of her career".^[21]

Park Si-hun of IZM rated the album 4 out of 5 stars. He wrote that while the album embraces contemporary pop music, its self-expression reflects Petras' rebellious spirit. He added that its inclusive "pop sensibility" reveals her maturity as an artist.^[20]

Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop gave the album a 7/10. Fantano criticized the album's underdeveloped themes and songwriting, but praised its upbeat production.^[22]

Credits are adapted from Tidal.^[23]

• Kim Petras – lead vocals (all tracks), programming (track 13)
• Nathan Dantzler – mastering
• Oren Ratowsky – mixing (1, 4, 6, 7, 9–13)
• Tom Norris – mixing (2, 3, 5)
• Margo XS – programming, synthesizer (3, 5, 13)
• Altgrandma – programming (5)
• Jon Castelli – mixing (8)
• Nightfeelings – programming (13)