Grimes
| Grimes | |
|---|---|
| Grimes performing live | |
| Birth name | Claire Elise Boucher |
| Born | Template:Birth date and age Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Other names | c |
| Occupations | Musician • singer • songwriter • record producer • music video director • visual artist |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Partner | Elon Musk (2018–2022) |
| Children | 3 |
| Website | Template:URL |
Claire Elise Boucher (born March 17, 1988), known professionally as Grimes, is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, music video director, and visual artist. Her music blends synth-pop, art pop, electropop, dream pop, industrial, and experimental electronic styles, often exploring themes of science fiction, feminism, technology, climate change, and fantasy.
Early life
Grimes was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, to Sandy Garossino (a former Crown prosecutor and arts advocate) and Maurice Boucher (a former banker working in biotech). She has French Canadian, Ukrainian, and Italian ancestry. Raised Roman Catholic, she attended Catholic school.
Her parents divorced when she was 11. In 2006, she moved to Montreal to attend McGill University, studying neuroscience and Russian literature, but was expelled in 2010 for focusing on music instead.
Career
Beginnings and breakthrough (2007–2012)
Grimes began self-recording in Montreal's underground scene. The name "Grimes" came from a Myspace genre mislabel involving grime music. Her early albums Geidi Primes (2010) and Halfaxa (2010) were released on Arbutus Records.
Visions (2012) on 4AD brought wider acclaim, recorded in isolation with sleep deprivation. It won the Juno Award for Electronic Album of the Year; singles "Genesis" and "Oblivion" became hits.
Art Angels and Miss Anthropocene (2015–2020)
Art Angels (2015) incorporated live instruments and topped alternative charts. Miss Anthropocene (2020) was a concept album as an anthropomorphic climate goddess, mixing nu metal, industrial, and electronic.
Recent work (2021–present)
Grimes has released singles like "Shinigami Eyes" (2022), "Nothing Lasts Forever" (2023 with Sevdaliza), "Entwined" (2025 with Sub Focus), and "Artificial Angels" (2025). Her sixth studio album is expected in 2026, possibly in non-traditional formats like mini-albums. Teases include "#g6" hashtags, features (e.g., Cobrah), and themes around AI, modernity, and internet culture.
Musical style and influences
Her sound shifts: lo-fi/witch house early, futuristic synth-pop in Visions, guitar-driven in Art Angels, nu metal/industrial in Miss Anthropocene. Influences include Björk, Aphex Twin, Kate Bush, Enya, Cocteau Twins, ABBA, Bring Me the Horizon, OutKast, Skinny Puppy, and more.
Other ventures
Grimes directs her videos, creates art/comics/merch, sold NFTs (2021), joined Unicorn DAO, voiced Lizzy Wizzy in Cyberpunk 2077, composed for Hilda, judged Alter Ego, and collaborated with Janelle Monáe, Poppy, Bring Me the Horizon, Anyma, and others. She explores AI in music.
Personal life
Grimes has three children with Elon Musk (2018–2022): X Æ A-Xii (2020), Exa Dark Sideræl (2021), Techno Mechanicus (2023). She has discussed neurodivergence (autism/ADHD) and past substance use for creativity.
Discography
Studio albums
- Geidi Primes (2010)
- Halfaxa (2010)
- Visions (2012)
- Art Angels (2015)
- Miss Anthropocene (2020)
- Sixth studio album (expected 2026)
Selected singles
- "Genesis" (2012)
- "Oblivion" (2012)
- "Kill V. Maim" (2016)
- "Violence" (2019)
- "Artificial Angels" (2025)
- "Entwined" (with Sub Focus, 2025)
Awards and nominations
Juno Award for Electronic Album of the Year (2013, Visions); multiple video nominations.