GRIMES

'I’ve snowboarded once, it worked'

Interview Asher Penn

Photography Jody Rogac

Last week I heard Grimes’ music in a fancy coffee shop on Lafayette Street. It sounded great. Sometimes I mistake her music for other peoples’, and vice versa. This happened with Air France, Gus Gus, and something else. Elliot Smith? Rihanna? Before I interviewed Grimes, I went to an art show she had curated at a gallery in New York. There were these cool watercolors that reminded me of ’90s paintings of pixies: pictures of fairies? The girls weren’t pixies or fairies, they were from real life, their eyes were black and they were crazy. I wondered if they were from Montreal. I remember one of the girls in the paintings had bangs and I wondered if she was Grimes. Have you seen that video for “Oblivion” where Grimes is running around a stadium at some motorbike show? Her hair is pink with bangs and she has this cool gold and black hoodie, skeleton gloves, and these huge headphones on. She looks so good in it, and it’s really fun watching her run around and have a good time. I think I have watched that video 20 times now.

What sign are you?

Pisces.

Do you believe in astrology?

Sure.

Do you read any particular horoscopes?

Just the ones my dad sends me.



Do you do your own hair?

Ya.



How many colors have you dyed your hair?

All colors.

Do you believe in “2012”?

Sure, maybe, I’ll see when it happens.

Do you meditate?

No, boring.

Do you do yoga?

I stretch in a non-spiritual way.

Are you a spiritual person?

Ya.

Do you have a spirit animal?

Hyena and beluga.

Who is your favorite rapper?

Left Eye.

Do you know how to snowboard?

I’ve snowboarded once, it worked.

Do you know how to surf?

No.

What stresses you out?

Airplanes, interviews.

Do you think Nardwuar is actually funny?

Ya.

Do you think Hipster Runoff is funny?

Ya, except when it’s about me, haha.

Is Skrillex cool?

Very cool.

Do you see a therapist?

Haha, never.

What’s your favorite book?

Lord of the Rings, Dune.

Who is your favorite artist?

Heironymous Bosch

What is your favorite movie?

The 5th Element, Antichrist, Enter The Void, True Romance, Kill Bill… etc.

What’s your favorite music video?

TLC – “No Scrubs”, maybe?

What’s your favorite song?

Prince – “When Doves Cry”.

What is your favorite flower?

A black rose.

Who is your favorite comedian?

Everyone who writes for The Simpsons… Larry David?

Do you have a smartphone?

Hell no.

When are you happiest?

When I’m working on music.

Do you read reviews on Pitchfork?

Occasionally, yes.

Do you play video games?

Ya, not so much any more.

What do you use to download music?

Hmmm I just ask people to send me their music usually. Mediafire?

Do you ever steal things?

Not anymore, I don’t want to lose my U.S. visa.

Have you ever been with a girl?

Ya.

Have you ever been to an orgy?

These are explicit questions, haha.

Do you think young people today are sexually repressed?

Yes.

Do guys try to pick you up on Facebook?

I don’t use Facebook.

Are you an optimist?

Ya.

Are you the kind of person to “pack a lunch”?

Not usually.

Do you like Sonic Youth?

Meh.

Did the rain in Vancouver ever get you depressed?

I like the rain in Vancouver – it’s beautiful.

Have you ever dated a skateboarder?

Haha, ya.

When do you tweet?

When I’m able to.

Do you think people “get you”?

Nope.

Have you ever shaved your head?

Yes.

Do you ever wear wigs?

Yes.

Do you consider yourself to be political?

Yes.

Do you vote?

Yes.

Do you believe in revolution?

Yes.

Did you go to Occupy Wall Street?

No.

Have you ever participated in a riot?

Yes.

Do you ever crowd surf at your shows?

No, but I should.

Do you like kids?

I respect them.

Did you ever have braces?

Yes.

Do you have a “style icon”?

Marilyn Manson.

Do you like horror movies?

Yes.



Do you take vacations?

No.

Are you a fast walker?

Yes.

Are you a fast talker?

Yes.

Do you drink coffee?

Yes.

Have you ever considered acting?

When I was a kid.

Did you make rings with vaginas on them?

My friend Morgan Black did.

Are you rich?

Hopefully soon.

Do you believe in ghosts?

Yes.

Do you believe in an afterlife?

Yes.

Are Canadian cops nicer than American ones?

NO. Fuck them all.

Do you have an iPad?

No.

What magazines have you had a subscription to?

None, but I used to have National Geographic.

What kind of deodorant do you use?

Don’t wear deodorant.

Do you have a favorite soap?

Don’t use soap.

How many hours do you usually sleep a day?

Four – seven.

Have you ever destroyed a hotel room?

No. Well, I hope not.

Do you like Drake?

Ya, sometimes.

What was the last movie you saw?

The Human Centipede.

What is the perfect date?

Anything that impresses me.

What bores you?

Television.

What is your biggest fear?

Death.

Do you like disco?

Yes.

Do you write in a diary?

Ya.

Do you keep a sketchbook?

Yes.

Do you have a Tumblr?

I try to, but I think I’m over it.

Have you ever been a vegan?

Ya, for like six years!

Do you ever get paranoid?

Ya.

Do you own a vibrator?

No, but I should.

How do you like your eggs?

Hate eggs! Unless hard-boiled with sriracha.

Are you a “Montreal bagel” snob?

No, I can’t eat bagels.

Are you allergic to any foods?

Lots, I can basically only eat vegetables and protein. Although I loooove yogurt, it makes me really sick, but I eat it all the time.

Do you ever gamble?

Yes!!! God yes.

Is SXSW actually fun?

Ya, if you can approach it in the right way.

Have you ever had a pet?

Ya. A pug. RIP.

What was its name?

Ginger.

If you got a new pet what would you name it?

Pepper.

What’s your favorite song to do on karaoke?

Notorious B.I.G. – “Dead Wrong”.

What do you think of e-cigarettes?

I don’t know what they are.