Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Grimes
How Grimes built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Claire Elise Boucher, known as Grimes, is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Her music and visuals frequently incorporate science fiction and feminist themes. Known for her unique artistic style and experimental approach, Grimes has released five studio albums, showcasing her diverse talents in music production and performance.
2006: Moved to Montreal
In 2006, Grimes moved from Vancouver to Montreal and began releasing music independently.
2007: Began writing music as Grimes
In 2007, Grimes began writing music under the name Grimes after creating a MySpace account. Her performer name was chosen because she listed "grime" for all three musical genres allowed on MySpace, without knowing what the grime music genre was.
2007: Influence of Panda Bear's Person Pitch
In 2007, Grimes stated that Panda Bear's album Person Pitch "jumpstarted" her mind and changed her approach to songwriting.
January 2010: Released Debut Album Geidi Primes
In January 2010, Grimes released her debut album, Geidi Primes, which is a concept album inspired by the Dune series.
2010: Released 'Geidi Primes' and 'Halfaxa'
In 2010, Grimes released her first two albums, 'Geidi Primes' and 'Halfaxa', on Arbutus Records.
May 2011: Opened for Lykke Li on North American Tour
Beginning in May 2011, Grimes opened for Lykke Li on her North American Tour.
January 2012: Signed with Record Label 4AD
Following extensive touring and positive reception to her first two albums and Darkbloom contribution, Grimes signed with record label 4AD in January 2012.
January 31, 2012: Released 'Visions' in Canada
On January 31, 2012, Grimes released her third studio album, 'Visions', in Canada through Arbutus Records.
February 21, 2012: Released 'Visions' in the United States
On February 21, 2012, Grimes released her third studio album, 'Visions', in the United States through 4AD.
March 2012: Art Show and Charity Auction
From March 23–25, 2012, Grimes staged an art show and charity auction at the Audio Visual Arts (AVA) gallery in New York City, featuring paintings and drawings.
March 2012: Released 'Visions' and Collaborated With Cop Car Bonfire
In March 2012, Grimes released her third studio album 'Visions' and collaborated with Cop Car Bonfire's Tim Lafontaine under the name Membrain, releasing an EP called, Sit Back, Rewind.
May 2012: Featured on Blood Diamonds's song "Phone Sex"
In May 2012, Grimes was featured on Blood Diamonds's song "Phone Sex".
August 2012: American Television Debut
In August 2012, Grimes made her American television debut on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.
2012: Released 'Visions'
In 2012, Grimes released her third album, 'Visions'.
December 2013: Employed Roc Nation
In December 2013, Grimes employed the services of Jay-Z's management company, Roc Nation.
2013: Collaboration with Saint Laurent
In 2013, Grimes designed a capsule collection of t-shirts for Hedi Slimane's Saint Laurent.
June 26, 2014: Premiered New Track "Go"
On June 26, 2014, Grimes premiered the new track "Go", produced by and featuring Blood Diamonds. It was a track that had been written for and rejected by Rihanna and was premiered on Zane Lowe's radio 1 show.
July 2014: Featured on Bleachers' song "Take Me Away"
In July 2014, Grimes was featured on Bleachers' song "Take Me Away" from their album, Strange Desire.
August 19, 2014: Featured in Haim's Music Video
On August 19, 2014, Grimes was featured in the music for the remix of Haim's My Song 5.
March 8, 2015: Released "Realiti" Music Video
On March 8, 2015, Grimes released a self-directed video for a demo version of "Realiti" from an abandoned album.
March 15, 2015: Released "Entropy" with Bleachers
On March 15, 2015, Grimes and Bleachers released their collaboration, "Entropy" for the HBO TV show Girls.
October 26, 2015: Released "Flesh Without Blood"
On October 26, 2015, Grimes released "Flesh Without Blood", the lead single from her upcoming album, along with a music video comprising "Flesh Without Blood" and "Life in the Vivid Dream".
2015: Released 'Art Angels'
In 2015, Grimes released her fourth studio album, 'Art Angels', which was named the best album of the year by several publications.
January 19, 2016: Released "Kill V. Maim" Music Video
On January 19, 2016, Grimes released the music video for "Kill V. Maim" (Act III) from her album Art Angels.
May 9, 2016: Released "California" Music Video
On May 9, 2016, Grimes released the music video for "California" (Act IV) from her album Art Angels.
August 3, 2016: Released "Medieval Warfare"
On August 3, 2016, Grimes released the song "Medieval Warfare" as part of the soundtrack of the 2016 superhero film, Suicide Squad.
October 5, 2016: Released "The Ac!d Reign Chronicles"
On October 5, 2016, Grimes and Hana Pestle released "The Ac!d Reign Chronicles", a lo-fi series of seven music videos including songs by Grimes and Hana, filmed exclusively on iPhones.
2016: Toured Asia and Europe and Opened for Florence and the Machine
In 2016, Grimes toured Asia and Europe with supporting act Hana on the Ac!d Reign Tour. Grimes continued touring through the summer of 2016, performing at various music festivals across North America and opening for Florence and the Machine on select dates of the How Beautiful Tour.
February 2, 2017: Premiered "Venus Fly" Music Video on Tidal
On February 2, 2017, Grimes premiered the high budget futuristic music video of "Venus Fly", starring herself and Janelle Monáe, on Tidal.
February 9, 2017: Uploaded "Venus Fly" Music Video on YouTube
On February 9, 2017, the "Venus Fly" music video was uploaded on YouTube.
October 19, 2017: Released "Dark Come Soon" Cover
On October 19, 2017, Grimes released a cover of Tegan and Sara's "Dark Come Soon" with Hana, as part of Tegan and Sara's The Con X: Covers album.
February 2018: Label Clash and Album Plans
In February 2018, Grimes wrote on Instagram about a clash with her label, 4AD, revealing plans to release two albums, separated by time, with different labels.
April 10, 2018: Featured on Janelle Monáe's "Pynk"
On April 10, 2018, Grimes was featured on "Pynk", the third single from Janelle Monáe's album, Dirty Computer.
May 30, 2018: Featured on Loona yyxy's "Love4Eva"
On May 30, 2018, Grimes was featured on "Love4Eva" by Loona yyxy, the lead single from South Korean girl group Loona's third sub-unit's debut EP Beauty & the Beat.
June 15, 2018: Featured in Apple's Behind the Mac Series
On June 15, 2018, Grimes was featured in a video for Apple's Behind the Mac series on their YouTube channel, with a preview of her song "That's What the Drugs Are For".
October 19, 2018: Featured on Jimmy Urine's "The Medicine Does Not Control Me"
On October 19, 2018, Grimes was featured on Jimmy Urine's "The Medicine Does Not Control Me" from the album, Euringer.
October 31, 2018: Featured on Poppy's "Play Destroy"
On October 31, 2018, Grimes was featured on "Play Destroy" by Poppy on her album Am I a Girl?.
November 29, 2018: Release of "We Appreciate Power"
On November 29, 2018, Grimes released the single "We Appreciate Power" featuring Hana. The song was described as an industrial rock and nu metal track.
December 11, 2018: Performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
On December 11, 2018, Grimes performed her song "We Appreciate Power" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, marking an appearance on a major television program.
August 13, 2019: Adidas by Stella McCartney advertisement
On August 13, 2019, Grimes posted an advertisement on Instagram for the Adidas by Stella McCartney Fall 2019 collection, and announced the release of the first single off her upcoming album, Miss Anthropocene, on September 13, 2019.
September 5, 2019: Release of "Violence" music video
On September 5, 2019, Grimes released the music video for her song "Violence", featuring i_o.
September 13, 2019: Release date announcement of Miss Anthropocene
On September 13, 2019, Grimes announced the release of the first single off her upcoming album, Miss Anthropocene.
October 25, 2019: Leak of Miss Anthropocene album
On October 25, 2019, an unfinished version of Grimes' album Miss Anthropocene was leaked online.
November 15, 2019: Release of "So Heavy I Fell Through the Earth" and Performance at The Video Game Awards
On November 15, 2019, Grimes released two versions of her single "So Heavy I Fell Through the Earth". Grimes also performed "4ÆM" at the 2019 Video Game Awards in order to introduce herself as Lizzy Wizzy, a voiced character in the game Cyberpunk 2077.
November 29, 2019: Release of "My Name Is Dark"
On November 29, 2019, Grimes released the single "My Name Is Dark".
December 13, 2019: Release of "4ÆM"
On December 13, 2019, Grimes released the single "4ÆM".
February 12, 2020: Release of "Delete Forever"
On February 12, 2020, Grimes released the single "Delete Forever", which was inspired by the death of Lil Peep and the opioid crisis.
February 21, 2020: Release of Miss Anthropocene
On February 21, 2020, Grimes' album, Miss Anthropocene, was officially released.
February 27, 2020: Release of "Idoru" music video
On February 27, 2020, Grimes released a music video for her song "Idoru".
April 1, 2020: Release of "You'll Miss Me When I'm Not Around" music video
On April 1, 2020, Grimes released a music video for the song "You'll Miss Me When I'm Not Around" and asked fans to help finish the video.
June 17, 2020: Feature on Ashnikko's "Cry"
On June 17, 2020, Grimes was featured on Ashnikko's song, "Cry" from her mixtape, Demidevil.
November 11, 2020: Collaboration with Benee on "Sheesh"
On November 11, 2020, Grimes collaborated with Benee on the dance-style song "Sheesh" on the latter's debut album, Hey U X.
December 11, 2020: Release of Cyberpunk 2077-themed DJ mix album
On December 11, 2020, Grimes and other associated artists, all using aliases, released a Cyberpunk 2077-themed DJ mix album on Apple Music, titled This story is dedicated to all those cyberpunks who fight against injustice and corruption every day of their lives!. The album contained two new songs by Grimes, "Samana" and "Delicate Weapon".
December 18, 2020: Change of Cover Art for Miss Anthropocene
On December 18, 2020, nine months after its initial release, Grimes changed the cover art for her fifth studio album, Miss Anthropocene, on all streaming platforms. The new cover art is a painting by Rupid Leejm.
2020: Voice role in Cyberpunk 2077
In 2020, Grimes had a voice role in the action role-playing video game Cyberpunk 2077 and was a judge on the music competition game show Alter Ego.
2020: Released 'Miss Anthropocene'
In 2020, Grimes released her fifth studio album, 'Miss Anthropocene'.
January 1, 2021: Release of Miss Anthropocene: Rave Edition
On January 1, 2021, Grimes released Miss Anthropocene: Rave Edition, a remix album featuring new versions of songs on the album.
March 5, 2021: Signing with Columbia Records
On March 5, 2021, Grimes signed with Columbia Records.
July 2021: Judging on Alter Ego
In July 2021, Grimes was revealed as a judge on Alter Ego, a singing competition series.
2021: Sale of Digital Art as NFTs
In early 2021, Grimes sold original digital art in the form of non-fungible tokens for $5.8 million.
January 2022: Partnership with Rocket League
In January 2022, Grimes partnered with the video game Rocket League for the Neon Nights event, which featured Grimes-themed items and her songs.
February 3, 2022: Announcement of Fairies Cum First EP
On February 3, 2022, Grimes announced her forthcoming EP titled Fairies Cum First.
May 2022: Joining the Board of Unicorn DAO
In May 2022, Grimes announced on Twitter that she was joining the board of Unicorn DAO, "to help their mission to fund/ develop female and non-binary lead [sic] art and projects".
August 2022: Cover of Vogue Plus China
In August 2022, Grimes was featured on the cover of Vogue Plus China and confirmed that her collaboration with The Weeknd is called "Sci Fi" and is set for release in mid-2022. She also provided more details about her upcoming studio album and EP.
January 2023: Update on Book 1 Album
In January 2023, Grimes gave an update on her delayed sixth album, Book 1, announcing that her career was a 'side quest' now and that her children, friends and family were her priorities.
April 2023: Invitation for AI Generated Songs
In April 2023, Grimes invited people to use her voice in AI generated songs, stating that she likes the idea of 'killing copyright'.
April 2024: DJ Set at Coachella
In April 2024, Grimes DJed at Coachella which was cut short due to technical problems. Media referred to it as the "worst performance in the history of Coachella".
September 20, 2024: Release of "Supernova" Remix
On September 20, 2024, Grimes released a remix of Aespa's song "Supernova" as part of "iScreaM Vol.33 : Supernova / Armageddon Remixes".
October 29, 2024: Release of "Image" Remix
On October 29, 2024, Grimes released a remix of Magdalena Bay's "Image".
February 24, 2025: Upload of Demo Tracks to SoundCloud
On February 24, 2025, Grimes uploaded two demo tracks, "The Fool" and "I Don't Give a Fuck, I'm Insane", to her SoundCloud account.
February 28, 2025: Co-Production of Adéla's "Machine Girl"
On February 28, 2025, Grimes co-produced Adéla's song, "Machine Girl". Grimes also made a cameo in the song's music video.
2077: Cyberpunk 2077
In 2077, Grimes had a voice role in the action role-playing video game Cyberpunk 2077.
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