Halloween, But Make It Fashion: Grimes

Artists, our time is now. More than ever before, creatives are making their way into the forefront of pop culture. I’ve noticed this in fashion trends over the past few years, and now with the recent rise of independent musical and visual artists. Lofty connections or record labels aren’t barriers to entry anymore. One of the most diversely talented artists of them all, Grimes, paves the way for untraditional creatives in mainstream culture. I could think of no better individual to honor this Halloween with this editorial rendition of her music video, Kill V. Maim.

Grimes: A DIY Engineered Pop Star

One of the qualities I admire most about Grimes (Claire Boucher) is her ability to learn and experiment with every aspect of creating: writing the story, directing, self-producing, singing, and writing music. It’s rare to find an artist that prefers to be in control of steering the whole ship. It’s even rarer to find an artist that is nearly completely self-taught. Only a few really master this ability: Kanye, M.I.A., or Tarantino, to name a few.

Grimes’ Artististic Struggle & Why I Relate

Blame my control freak nature or love of bringing my own visions to life, but I’ve never been more proud of the things I’ve created as a result of learning something new and challenging myself. It’s how you truly find out what you’re capable of. In one of my favorite interviews of Claire’s, she speaks to the struggle of transitioning to mainstream pop culture, and the feeling of relinquishing some control of her vision.

Her track, Kill V. Maim on her most recent album is a result of this. Instead of writing a song from her own point of view in the personality the industry wanted for her, she felt freer telling a fictional story based off the Godfather, and what it would have been like for him to time travel and switch between genders. I resonate with that here on my blog, as it’s an alter ego side of me that allows me to be completely creative and dress outside my own norm, and own world.