It’s been almost a year since Grimes aka Claire Boucher released a new video, and her latest REALiTi, was salvaged from the cutting room floor. Recorded in 2013, the track was to be released on a follow up album to 2012’s Visions, but as that is no longer the case, she decided to release it on the 2nd anniversary of her Asian tour as a thank you to everyone that made it possible. The video was directed by the Canadian musician herself and is made up of live concerts and general tour fun.
Boucher is said to be working on another album at the moment, with more tracks to be released over the summer, however REALiTi is not a slice of what’s to come; new album, new vibes. Saying that, it’s certainly an intriguing track with lots of emotion. One that leaves us wanting more.
Experimental electro-pop chic Grimes has, finally, released a new video for her latest track. The song came out in June and features a collaboration with another Canadian musician Blood Diamond, but apparently Claire Boucher wrote Go for Rhianna. We’re just thankful the pop-princess turned it down.
The video was inspired by Dante’s Inferno, and was co-directed by Grimes and her brother Mac. It takes us to a world of dancing mimes, club scenes and sand dunes, with flashing lights, fish-eye shots, and even features some very en vogue Adidas slides. We just hope the next visual instalment doesn’t take as long.
Last night the new Versus Versace was launched in New York with an unconventional fashion show. Creative Director Donatella Versace and J.W. Anderson were visible from backstage where they prepared the models, while live performances from Angel Haze, Dead Sara, as well as Twin favourite, Grimes, intercut the runway. The whole event was interactive, streamed live, uploaded to Instagram.
Donatella Versace commented that the event was about bringing together everything she loves. “This mix of music and fashion captures the essence of Versus Versace, a label for a new global tribe,” she says. The collection itself plays with the original Versace DNA, reworking it into new pieces with sharp silhouettes and iconic motifs. With collaborations and limited edition pieces, Donatella Versace hopes to make this a new home for fresh talent and creativity.
J.W. Anderson is just one of the first guest designers who will, in turn, show us their take on the Versus Versace spirit. “The idea behind the collection was about a modern, sharp, Versus Versace, with a focus on the shared wardrobe,” says Anderson, “a man in a woman's wardrobe, and a woman
in a man's”. The result is pieces that toy with gender and sexuality, pieces that should be worn with an attitude of fearlessness. The capsule collection will be available online from June 15, in addition to exclusive behind the scenes footage of the making of the collection.
Claire Boucher, better known as her alter ego Grimes, has taken her artistry into an unexpected, but not undesirable direction. The Canadian creative has collaborated with the recently appointed Creative Director of YSL, Hedi Slimane. Or should we say Saint Laurent, although we do feel a little sad about dropping Yves.
The two met on a magazine cover shoot, getting on so well they decided to create a capsule collection of t-shirts for Saint Laurent’s Spring/Summer 2013 menswear collection. Designed to give us a look into the dark mind of an enigmatic songstress, we discover her take on Slimane’s own ‘love poster’ of the 70s. Although disappointed these graphic printed tees are meant for men, we still can’t help but want one.
Claire Boucher aka Grimes is undoubtably the girl of the moment. Not only are her tunes ludicrously catchy without the cliche, but her personal style is such that girls want to be her and guys want to be near her.
For Twin’s Issue VI we tasked photographer Tara Darby, stylist Michele Rafferty and hairstylist Selena Middleton with shooting Grimes.
Twin spoke to Michele Rafferty and Selena Middleton about collaborating on the shoot…
Hi Michele, you styled Grimes for Twin’s Issue VI. What are the differences between styling people and fashion models?
It requires a different sort of approach than with models not harder just different. Respecting her integrity whilst still creating something that works, feels relevant and reflects your own style, your obsessions…
How did you envision the shoot?
The team was key, it always is, but my thoughts about Grimes’ look was that I wanted to get away from the ethereal thing she often seems to have going on. I wanted something tougher and cleaner, also a sense of fun. I wanted her to be the coolest, hardest girl at school. So she’s a kind of grebo skinhead mix! She’s the girl I would have been bunking off a maths lesson with.
I chatted with Claire about what she was comfortable with. She was really open, very aware of the importance of creating interesting images. She also knew her own mind. Her only request was that she be allowed to keep her tights on. She doesn’t shave her legs, which is very unusual and very impressive. She’s a very cool young lady.
How did you work as a team?
Obviously when everyone arrives at the studio the ideas are all discussed and brought together. Selena and I are very much on the same wavelength as far as references go and she brought it all together with the coloured hairpieces, different colours for each outfit change.
It’s fun to work with people that have the same kind of visual reference library and their own brilliant obsessions. I think Tara’s images are lovely and unique, they show another side of Claire/Grimes.
Stripe dress Open Back, Miharayasuhiro
Cherry red boots, Dr. Martens
Where did you take your cues from for the look of the shoot?
As above, but more solid refs; Shane Meadows’ This Is England, youth cult mixes, luxury labels brought down to earth with DM boots.
What’s your personal attitude to fashion and styling?
I love clothes, it’s a language. People say so much about themselves in the way they dress. I find that fascinating and fun and funny.
What are your earliest outfit memories?
My mum made all our clothes. We were always the freaks! I just wanted white nylon tights like the other girls. Obviously now I know my sister and I looked adorable.
What item would make it into to your personal capsule wardrobe?
White men’s 100 per cent cotton T-shirt.
Whose style do you admire now and forever?
A sweeping statement, but, Jamaican men, disaffected youth, old English men. I also love a uniform.
What’s coming up next for you?
Shooting a short film with Clare Shilland for Marni Menswear S/S 13.
White school uniform shirt, John Lewis Navy crombie, Celine Cherry red boots, Dr. Martens
Hi Selena, where did you start with the hair for the Grimes shoot?
Well it was a collaboration between Michele Rafferty, Tara Darby and myself. Claire Grimes is the future of music, and like all young cool kids she likes to experiment, so we all decided it would be a good idea to change her hair colour in every shot to work with the outfits. For me this is the best form of artistic expression, no boundaries just believing what your doing is right. I think Michelle and I are very much on the same page, and as a team we worked to get the best possible image.
What are your must have products?
Dry shampoo and Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine.
What look do you love at the moment?
Anything modern with a twist. I love a grunge bun with colour!
Do you have a style secret you can share with us?
After washing and conditioning your hair, tie your hair at the nape of your neck with some hairgrips. Apply Shu Uemura deep-sea repair foundation and leave to dry. Voila! Beautiful, natural beach hair.
What has been your best hairstyling moment?
Back in the day when I was assisting, I met Martin Margiela and also Martine Sitbon my two favourite designers, while working on the Hermes show. That was a pretty exciting day!
What’s next for you?
I have been art directing on a lot of projects which is allowing me to have more control over the work I produce. You can be even more creative and it is great working with a strong team, I still love to share ideas with other people!
If you aren’t already listening to Grimes, then it’s time to catch up. The 23-year-old Montreal based musician, aka Claire Boucher, blurs the lines between singer and producer by making and recording her own records. Delivering influences from lullabies to Nicki Minaj through her lisping four octave range voice, Grimes whispers of vulnerability but is powerfully mesmerising.
Totally committed to the creative process, for her fourth record offering, Visions, Boucher blacked out the windows and merged night with day for three weeks. Oblivion, featuring a compulsively watchable video by Emily Kai Bock, is a floor-filling pop song with shadowy undertones. We love her strong brows and free-spirit style. Look out for Grimes in Twin’s new issue next month.
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