Claire Elise Boucher, Grimes, as you may know her, is one of the most polarizing artists in the alternative scene of the last decade. But did you know she was born and raised right here in Vancouver?
Her breakout album, Visions, which earned her a JUNO nomination for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, as well as the #1 spot on Pitchfork’s 200 best tracks of the decade so far (2014) continues to influence the world of electronic and alternative music to this day, yet the creative process she claims to have gone through to produce it is…questionable to say the least.
According to her Spotify artist profile, Visions was “recorded during a 2 week speed binge wherein she did not leave her bedroom.” This same profile highlights when she “lived in a crack den in Montreal with no heat (where she got frostbite twice and her neighbor was bludgeoned to death in the hallway.)” While some read this bio and laugh, others consider it to be in poor taste.
If you’re unfamiliar with her music, chances are you recognize her for her long-term partnership with the infamous Tesla CEO, Elon Musk. From 2018-2022, Grimes was in an on-again, off-again relationship with Musk, and the pair have 3 children together.
Many claim Grimes spent her early career “cosplaying poverty” to appear more artistic despite coming from familial wealth.
She’s also been criticized for her rapidly shifting political values. The most glaring example being when she made public appearances sporting the Communist Manifesto after her first split with Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, and arguably the face of modern capitalism.
To add to her growing list of controversies, Grimes was under fire for multiple comments, including her repeatedly defending her pride in “white culture.” She attempted to refute claims of naziism in a (now deleted) tweet, which only worsened public reception of the artist.
In January of this year, she released a statement on X apologizing for her previous comments, saying, “I very much denounce Nazi-ism and white supremacy. I am sorry I didn’t take this more seriously sooner, I did not realize the extent of the issue.”
Despite these examples merely scratching the surface of the many controversial moments throughout her career, Grimes still has an incredibly active fan base. Some defend her previous actions, while others fully denounce them. This has sparked a running joke among fans saying, “RIP Grimes, you would’ve loved Grimes.”
As a huge fan of her Visions era work myself, I find my stance on her conflicting. Not only does this tie into a wider discussion regarding cancel culture and whether or not one can “separate the art from the artist,” but it also leaves me to wonder what parts of her public persona (if any) are even sincere.
If one gains publicity by making statements they may not even fully align with, is this still a reflection of their true nature? Even if it is, is it my responsibility to care? At the end of the day, such questions can really only be answered by the individual.
No matter how, if at all, you choose to react to Grimes’ behaviour, there is no denying the impact she has had on both her fans and the music industry in general throughout the years. From Vancouver private schools to Montreal crack dens to Silicon Valley, the one constant we can expect from her is that we have no clue what’s coming next.