U+MAG: Could you explore the connection between Claire Boucher and the Grimes persona?
GRIMES: They’re the same thing. Grimes isn’t a persona, it’s just the name of my brand, i guess. My art is all released as ‘grimes’ rather than Claire Boucher cuz i thought claire Boucher sounded boring.

U+MAG Any memorable experience regarding your carrer or your life you would like to share with us?
GRIMES: Once my friend, his dad, and myself were living in the woods in minnesota. We were very far from a town, and were rather broke. Someone hit a deer on the side of the highway, so we went to pick it up, skinned it, cut it up, salted and prepared the meat and were able to eat the deer for almost 3 weeks.

U+MAG: Your early work is usually grouped together with an electronic scene usually related to a punk, do-it-yourself lifestyle. Could you describe your method of writing and recording music?
GRIMES: I record everything using logic, midi, Roland Juno G or Roland Gaia, SM58 microphones and i used a tascam interface for visions. now i use an apogee. I write music mostly at night, alone, in the dark.

U+MAG How did your studies of eletroacoustic music at McGill influence what you now play?
GRIMES:  I actually studied the ways in which music is processed by the human brain, so it was extremely technical and didn’t have that much to do with music. I’m not sure it was particularly relevant to what I’m doing now, unless perhaps from a philosophical standpoint. What i did learn is that I’m not proficient enough in mathematics and computing to persue a degree in computer modelling of brain activity, so i guess that encouraged me to move into music.

U+MAG: When have you started working on Visions and how has it come about?
GRIMES: I started in early august of this year and finished by late august. I subjected myself to intense solitude and light and food deprivation. Ideally I will do this again next time.

U+MAG: How has the momentum gained with the release of Visions affected both your life and your music? Besides the obvious quality of your work, do you have any explanation as to why it has found so much success in so little time?
GRIMES: My life has been quite affected by the craziness of this album cycle because I don’t live anywhere anymore. so it’s pretty lonely. It’s also harder to find time to work cuz I get shuttled around a lot. But I feel even more inspired to work on music than i did before, which is really nice. I also feel a lot more confident. I think the album has achieved a lot of success because it is extremely passionate and uncensored. I think I just love making music more than anything else, and I think that’s very audible in the music.

U+MAG: You have recently featured the cover of Dazed & Confused, one of the most influential magazines in the current fashion landscape. What’s your relation to fashion? Do you see yourself as an style icon?
GRIMES: I don’t see myself as a style icon haha, im not sure i’m famous enough. But I do think fashion is important, it’s a statement to the outside world. it communicates a lot of one’s values or whatever. If I dressed really differently my music would be perceived differently. So I try to create something that is visually impactful but not overly sexual or anything. almost kind of androgynous, masculine or at times childlike.

U+MAG: What’s next for Grimes? Any thoughts on the possibilities of becoming a superstar v. keeping a small, captivated and devoted audience?
GRIMES: I will take what comes. I have no issues with success or notoriety, but i would never compromise what i do for that. I think I don’t have that much to do with the degree to which i am successful, because that all happens after the fact, i can only make art and hope people like it.