I found out about Grimes when I saw the music video for “Oblivion” and couldn’t get enough of her. There was something mesmerizing about her vocals and even more intriguing about the simplicity of her music, relying on layer upon layer of fuzzed out synth lines piled on top of each other.
Since bursting onto the scene, Grimes armed with only a synthesizer and voice to die for, has become a rising star in the indie music scene. Her look is constantly changing and it is hard to tell what kind of performance she’ll put on. All I know is this Canadian musician has won a place in my heart of hearts.
What makes her music so catchy?
There is something nostalgic about the sounds her synth spits out. The melodies trail off into nothingness with her faint vocals into distant worlds. Before she lets us get carried off into a indie head bobbing zone, the beat comes in. Grimes embraces the whimsy of music, creating something magical and timeless.
But she hasn’t stopped yet. Her first album, Geidi Primes, caught the attention of music magazine Pitchfork. Although it was more naive, being her debut album, she has sent taken charge of both her sound and image.
Her unique image comes with an even more unique perspective on music. She’s found a place in the electronic world, preferring the simplicity of electronic instruments over playing guitar or drums.
In an October interview with the Chicago Tribune, Grimes explained, “I didn’t own any instruments and wasn’t really able to play anything,” she says. “I didn’t see the point of getting instruments if I could make fake guitars and drums on the computer. It has more possibilities: you turn the sub bass up, create a sine wave, and play with the wave form.”
I have already listened to her albums Halfaxa and Darkbloom. Both have drawn me in and I’m excited to see what 2013 will hold. Grimes’ sound has been transforming each album so perhaps she’ll throw a curve ball with her next release.
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-doe
