Vancouver has given the world a host of talented and well-known figures, according to Vancouveranka. Acting, music, dance, and sports are just a few of the many fields where Vancouverites truly shine.
The acclaimed artist Grimes also hails from Vancouver. Her multifaceted talent allows her to excel in several creative avenues simultaneously.
Drawing on sources like hellomagazine.com, pitchfork.com, sova, businessinsider, nytimes, teenvogue, and vanityfair, we’re taking a closer look at this remarkable singer.
Grimes, born Claire Elise Boucher, entered the world on March 17, 1988, in Vancouver. She’s globally recognized as a Canadian singer, musician, songwriter, producer, and artist.
Ukrainian Roots
Grimes spent her entire childhood in her hometown of Vancouver. Her paternal grandmother was Ukrainian, while her mother has French and Italian ancestry.
Grimes attended Vancouver Catholic School and began ballet lessons at age eleven.
According to the singer, her Russian-speaking grandmother instilled in her a strong appreciation for literature. As a result, she was familiar with the works of Dostoevsky, Bulgakov, Nabokov, and Tarkovsky from a young age.
A New Chapter
When she moved to Quebec, she adopted the stage name Grimes for her music.
In 2006, the singer relocated to Montreal, where she enrolled at McGill University. During her studies, she continued to learn Russian. However, music soon became her primary focus, leading her to leave university in 2011 to pursue her artistic passion.
The Debut
Grimes made her debut in 2010 with the release of her first album, “Geidi Primes.” In May 2021, she performed at a Lykke Li concert.
Later, Grimes and Canadian musician d’Eon collaborated on the mini-split “Darkbloom.”
On the Big Screen
2011 saw the singer step into the world of film. She was offered a role in “Tabula Rasa,” a short dramatic film directed by Matthew Rankin.
Musical Releases
In the winter of 2012, Grimes announced on Twitter that she had signed with 4AD, a renowned music label. This collaboration led to the release of her album “Visions,” which was met with widespread acclaim from music critics and listeners alike.
On June 26, 2014, the singer dropped her new single, “Go.”
March 8, 2015, saw the release of the music video for “Reality,” which Grimes herself directed.
In October 2015, the artist announced another album, “Art Angels.” She also gave fans a sneak peek of the upcoming album’s cover on her Instagram page.
Grimes had plans to release a follow-up to “Art Angels” in 2016, but the album’s release was ultimately cancelled.
**Busy Work and Commercial Appearances**
On August 3, 2016, “Medieval Warfare” premiered on a Canadian radio station. It later became part of the soundtrack for the hit action film “Suicide Squad.”
September 26, 2017, marked the release of the singer’s Spotify playlist. Around the same time, Grimes also announced the creation of a new genre for her own drawings.
Early 2018 saw the artist reveal she was working on two new records. The first was described as having a lighter sound and was intended to be her final release on 4AD, while the second adopted a more experimental approach.
In early summer 2018, fans spotted Grimes in an Apple commercial, where she demonstrated how to create music, videos, and images on a MacBook.
That fall, the singer tweeted about the “imminent” arrival of new music and confirmed she had completed a new single. Grimes also launched new merchandise and teased a new song recorded with HANA, an American artist.
Grimes herself stated that the North Korean rock band Moranbong inspired the song’s creation.
She urged fans to listen closely and delve into the song’s meaning, as the lyrics explore modern technology and artificial intelligence.
New Projects and Collaborations
2018 was a year brimming with new songs and projects for the singer.
Beyond her collaborations with well-known artists, she even composed the musical theme for the Netflix animated series “Hilda.”
Early 2019 brought the release of a song Grimes recorded with a famous British rock band.
In January of the same year, the singer shared the lyrics to a new composition.
She drew attention to the song’s character, describing it as a “dark ballad” recounting a battle with a demonic creature first mentioned by Tolkien: the Balrog.
Critics, in turn, noted that Grimes had, to some extent, infused the song with a “sexual metaphor.”
In March 2019, the singer released a demo version of a new track, “Pretty Dark.” On her YouTube channel, she clarified that it wasn’t a new single but a demo for an upcoming AR project.
Grimes also shared details about creating characters for an augmented reality book and musical.
Notably, one of these characters is prominently featured in the “Pretty Dark” music video.
Despite this project, the artist also confirmed she was working on a new album, adding that she might announce an EP and new singles before the next full-length record drops.
On March 19, 2019, Grimes announced her new album, “Miss Anthropocene.” The record was presented as a collection of songs describing an “anthropomorphic goddess imbued with climate change power.”
The singer further explained that all the tracks embody “human extinction, expressed through a demonic pop star.”
Art Exhibition
When discussing such an eclectic and multi-talented individual as Grimes, her artistic flair can’t be overlooked.
In May 2020, the singer’s visual art exhibition opened.
The exhibits were showcased on the online platforms Gallery Platform Los Angeles and Maccarone Los Angeles. Alongside her paintings, prints, and drawings, the exhibition featured the art piece “Selling Out,” which served as a documented confirmation that the owner of the work also owned a piece of Grimes’ soul.
According to the artist herself, she didn’t want anyone to actually buy the piece, so she set a price of ten million dollars to ensure it remained unsold.
A Glimpse into Her Personal Life
Starting in 2018, the artist was officially dating Elon Musk. It seems fate brought these two extraordinary and incredibly talented individuals together. Their uniqueness and unconventionality were evident in every aspect of their relationship, right down to their children’s names.
In 2020, the couple welcomed a son they named X Æ A-12.
According to the singer, each component of her son’s name holds significance. “X” represents an unknown variable, “Æ” is linked to the Elven spelling of “artificial intelligence or love,” and “A-12” refers to the American high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, known for its speed and lack of weaponry.
September 2021 saw the end of Elon and Grimes’ relationship.
However, this didn’t stop them from becoming parents again in the winter of 2021 when they welcomed a daughter.
Photo: joinfo.com