Grimes. Photo: Jimi Celeste/Patrick McMullan

What was the last thing Grimes Googled as of Tuesday this week? “Why can’t I breathe?” she told us at the Webby Awards. “I thought there was maybe mold in my house or something. So I typed in, “Why can’t I b —” and then things like be skinny, be pretty all come up. I was like, Oh my god. It really stressed me out.” Here’s how the rest of the conversation went. (Preview: Things got personal.)

How often do you clear your search history?

Once every couple months.



What makes you clear it?

When there’s something I don’t want to keep going to. Usually it’s something to do with Grimes. I want to go to Gmail and it’s always Grimes — and that stresses me out too.



So I have to tell you, we actually go way back. I’m from Vancouver as well, and my mom tutored you in math.

Oh my God. Are you serious? What was her name? Short, dark hair.



Yep, Val.

Yes! Oh, does she hate me?



No, not at all! She actually read an article about you that came out a while ago and e-mailed me to tell me. She said it actually made a lot of sense that you ended up pursuing something creative.

And got kicked out of math.



No, what happened? Did you pass?

I passed! I got 92 percent on the final.



That’s amazing.

Tell her. Tell her I aced the final! You should tell her I actually lied and got into the McGill physics program and I didn’t have calculus or anything, and I got a B-minus, which is very impressive.



How often do you use math now?

All the time. I work with sound waves all day; it’s not math math, but still.



Do you have a favorite meme?

I truly love Gangnam Style. I guess it’s a meme. I feel like it’s one of the few times where the meme and the quality combines nicely.



If you became a meme like Ryan Gosling and Keanu Reeves —

Keanu Reeves is a meme? I knew about Ryan Gosling.



So if you became one would it be horrifying or flattering?

Probably a bit of both. It’s obviously funny to be a meme so I could be down with it in that regard but it also belittles one’s art.



Speaking of which, what did you think about Bieber demanding to be respected as an artist during his Billboard Awards speech?

I didn’t watch them. I briefly saw Miguel knock some girl out, but that’s it.