Following her recent Janelle Monae-featuring Coachella set, art-pop singer-songwriter Claire Boucher, best known as Grimes, dropped by Apple Music's Beats 1 studio to chat with DJ Zane Lowe and deliver a 40-minute mix. During the brief guest set, the Canadian oddball treated listeners to an exclusive preview of a brand-new track by Taiwanese rapper Aristophanes that was produced by Arcade Fire frontman Will Butler.
In addition to the exclusive track, Boucher dropped an eclectic playlist including some of her favorite tracks by Chairlift, Burial, Insane Clown Posse, Nicole Dollanganger and Sleigh Bells among others, DIY Mag reports.
Boucher spoke with Lowe about the rapper's strikingly unique sound before sharing the as-of-yet unnamed demo: "The first time I heard her I was like 'I never heard anything like this' but I've always thought something like this should exist."
Aristophanes was previously featured on "Scream," a single off Grimes' most recent full-length Art Angels. The rapper's new track similarly juxtaposes the head-bangable with the ethereal. Give it a listen below.
On Lowe's show, Boucher also discussed Art Angels in depth, comparing the album to Smashing Pumpkin's 1995 album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and revealing her intentions to make "California" a "dancehall country song," Pitchfork reports.
Earlier in the week, the singer-songwriter also made a brief guest appearance on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show. Joined by longtime friend and collaborator HANA, Grimes performed Art Angels tracks "REALiTi" and "Flesh Without Blood," as well as a cover of Franz Schubert's "Ave Maria."
During that radio spot, she discussed the fasting ritual she practiced while recording 2012's Visions, the importance of snacks during her Art Angels studio sessions, her admiration of Mindless Self Indulgence, and revealed that her live show is actually as much a party onstage as it appears.
Additionally, she talked about how she not only produces all of her own material from start to finish, but also typically directs and edits her own videos. Give that interview and studio session a listen below.
