Culture Collective

Artist Spotlight: Grimes

Grimes is a woman of many talents. Born in Canada under the name Claire Boucher, she has recently become a well-known producer, artist and musician. She began recording experimental music while studying in Montreal, where she then became involved in the underground music scene. 

Although she is relatively new to the music scene and is yet to learn how to read music, Grimes has cultivated her own genre. Elements of her sound have been compared to the likes of How to Dress Well and Gang Gang Dance, although her music in its entirety is like nothing heard before.

Grimes' music has a wide range of influences, ranging from hip hop and R&B to electronic and pop. She describes her music as "ADD music" because of its frequent and dramatic shifts. Her dreamy, ethereal vocals and electronic beats give Grimes' music an unearthly vibe. Grimes is well known for her unusual, almost alien music and style. "I started being identified as being weird and then I was alienated, and then being alienated became part of my identity." 

"I mean, I think my sound is post-Internet... because genres are sort of disappearing, people just use bands as reference points. And if I were to describe my sound, I'd just say it's modern?"

She released her first album Geidi Primes in 2010 and has since released two more. She adopted her stage name "Grimes" from the artist Ken Grimes, famous for his alien artworks. 

Be sure to check Grimes out, her music and artwork is gaining recognition by the minute and she has her eyes set on international stardom.