Futuristic Fresh Melodies: An Exploration Into The Career of Grimes

By Seb Gorlov

Grimes is undeniably one of the best musicians this generation has ever seen. With a highly impressive discography and list of accolades to her name, including two Juno Awards (Canada’s award for major musical achievement) in 2013, for her album Visions and being the Breakthrough Artist of The Year, the singer – whose real name is Claire Boucher – blends her love of dystopian realities with her brand of ethereal electronica to create songs that draw the listener into her world.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Grimes started making music in 2006 at just eighteen years old. In 2010, her first studio album Geidi Primes was released, introducing her to the world. By utilising multiple instruments and experimenting with rhythms, she was able to create a record that has a melodic and enticing feel to it, the perfect introduction for fans.

“The fractured, breathy world of “Venus in Fleurs” brings us to a different place entirely, a darkly lit underworld that sounds like someone breathing ice. There is something utterly glacial about the entire song, yet Grimes has real heart, and within every track there is a certain glowing warmth, a gleeful sense of real creativity” (Kane, Consequence, 15.08.11)

“Venus In Fleurs” is a highlight on the album for having a strong, eerie feel, something Grimes has mastered throughout her entire career. The song is dominated by hauntingly beautiful acoustics and is paired with an idiosyncratic video, which was filmed in a bird sanctuary in British Columbia.

Another standout is “Rosa”, which consists of soft vocalisations, sweet wordplay and a catchy, repetitive bassline that powers the song. Statistics from Genius – a website which displays lyrics – show that the song’s page has been viewed over 32,000 times.

“Rosa’s flower powers/ Oh she is a witch/ Sewing up my heart again/ Love in every stitch” (“Rosa”, Geidi Primes, Grimes).

The next album Halfaxa contains many great tracks, particularly the song “ World ♡ Princess”. Many Grimes enthusiasts will agree one of her biggest strengths is her vocal ability which is strongly enhanced by layering sounds, a crucial component in making good electronic music.

“Layering allows you to add subtle or not-so-subtle complexity. Think of adding different percussive elements to give a beat more movement or blending several synth lines to create an ever-evolving wave of sound.” (Connaghan, Emastered, 03.11.24).

The third album Visions came out in 2012 and contains what is possibly her magnum opus, “Genesis”. With a music video that draws inspiration from her religious background, prominent themes of love, a notable synthwave sound and angelic vocals, “Genesis” is highly deserving of the critical acclaim it has received, being certified gold in sales in both the UK and America.

Other highlights include “Oblivion” which came second on Pitchfork’s “Top 200 Songs of the 2010s” list, reiterating her impact on the industry. Visions also highlights her talents for art – she designed the slightly harrowing, yet beautiful cover on her own in fourteen hours.

Next on the agenda is 2015 album Art Angels, which felt very much like the turning point for Grimes to delve into experimentation with her trademark sound. “Kill vs. Maim” takes on a more high-octane, fast paced approach with guitar riffs and a steady drum beat matching the creative lyrics.

“ I got in a fight, I was indisposed/ I was in despite all the wicked prose” (“Kill vs. Maim”, Art Angels, Grimes).

The rock-influenced sound carries across the album and is most noticeable in the album opener “Flesh Without Blood” – whilst Grimes still sings with the beautiful vocals she’s known for, there is a gritty feel to them.

“Running underneath the track’s punchy, metallic drums reminiscent of those on Visions is something new for Boucher: a pop-punk evoking guitar riff” (Cills, Pitchfork, 26.10.15).

Five years went by without an album after Art Angels, but Mrs Anthropocene makes up for this. The tracks contain sounds and words that make you feel as if you are stepping into a fantasy world, really honing in on the ethereal approach.

However, it’s not a smooth ride. Certain parts of the album experiment with a much more twisted narrative in which Grimes takes on the role of a goddess looking into the future, drawing inspiration from the world we live in, which is affected heavily by climate change.

The result is a nihilistic yet powerful record, with Grimes fully immersing the sepulchral personality of “Mrs Anthropocene”, especially on songs such as “My Name Is Dark”, where the lyrics tell a tale of someone feeling down and out, embittered with the world, even namedropping a famous Smashing Pumpkins track that carries similar themes.

“Put on “Bullet With Butterfly Wings”/ So that I can sing along while I break things” (“My Name Is Dark (Art Mix)”, Mrs Anthropocene, Grimes).

Grimes remains one of the key figures in the electronic music industry for her ability to create songs that are fun to listen to, containing thematic elements and world-building that stays in the mind of listeners long after they have heard the tracks and hopefully, she continues to flourish for many years.