Grimes

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Grimes}
Origin
Genres
Years active	2007–present
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Website	Template:URL
Members
Current members
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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 elements of 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 and has spoken about the influence of her religious upbringing.

Her parents divorced when she was 11. Her mother remarried, bringing Indo-Canadian stepfamily into her life, including stepbrother rapper Jay Worthy. In 2006, she moved to Montreal to attend McGill University, studying neuroscience and Russian literature (or electroacoustics in some accounts), but was expelled in 2010 for poor attendance while focusing on music.

Career

Beginnings and breakthrough (2007–2012)

Grimes began self-recording experimental music in 2007 while in Montreal's underground scene. She chose the name "Grimes" after a Myspace genre mislabel involving grime music. Her debut album Geidi Primes (2010), a Dune-inspired concept record, and follow-up Halfaxa (2010) were released on Arbutus Records.

She gained wider attention with the 2012 album Visions on 4AD, recorded in isolation using sleep deprivation and amphetamines. It received critical acclaim, topped year-end lists, and won the Juno Award for Electronic Album of the Year. Singles "Genesis" and "Oblivion" became defining tracks.

Art Angels and Miss Anthropocene (2015–2020)

Art Angels (2015) marked a shift to incorporating live instruments (guitar, violin) and topped Billboard's Top Alternative Albums. It earned widespread praise as one of the year's best albums.

Miss Anthropocene (2020) was a concept album portraying an anthropomorphic climate goddess, blending ethereal nu metal, industrial, and electronic sounds. Singles included "Violence", "My Name Is Dark", and "4ÆM".

Recent work (2021–present)

Grimes has released singles and collaborations, including "Shinigami Eyes" (2022), "Nothing Lasts Forever" (2023 with Sevdaliza), and "Entwined" (2025 with Sub Focus). In 2025, she released "Artificial Angels". Her sixth studio album is expected in 2026, teased as potentially featuring a space opera narrative involving AI romance, lesbian themes, and titles like "Darq Souls" or "Favourite Psycho". She has discussed releasing in non-traditional formats like mini-albums.

Musical style and influences

Grimes' sound evolves across projects: lo-fi R&B and witch house early on, futuristic synth-pop in Visions, guitar-driven in Art Angels, and nu metal/industrial in Miss Anthropocene. She layers vocals extensively for ethereal effects and describes her style as "ADD music" with rapid shifts.

Influences include Björk, Aphex Twin, Kate Bush, Enya, Cocteau Twins, ABBA, Bring Me the Horizon, OutKast, Skinny Puppy, Yoko Kanno, and more.

Other ventures

Grimes directs her music videos and creates album art, comics, and merchandise, influenced by anime and manga. She sold NFTs in 2021 and joined Unicorn DAO. She voiced Lizzy Wizzy in Cyberpunk 2077, composed for Netflix's Hilda, judged on Alter Ego, and collaborated with artists like Janelle Monáe, Poppy, Bring Me the Horizon, and Anyma. She has explored AI in music and voice applications.

Personal life

Grimes has three children with Elon Musk (relationship 2018–2022): X Æ A-Xii (2020), Exa Dark Sideræl (2021), and Techno Mechanicus (2023). She has discussed neurodivergence (autism and ADHD diagnoses) and past substance use during creative periods.

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

Grimes won the Juno Award for Electronic Album of the Year (2013) for Visions and Video of the Year for "Kill V. Maim" (related to Art Angels). She received multiple nominations for her videos and breakthrough work.