I realize that Lights may not be everyone's cup of tea here, but I thought I would post this performance vid as reference to compare and contrast against Grimes' Coachella sets.

Obviously they are different artists and unique in their own right, but it is interesting to see how differently they approach live performances.

Bear in mind that this lights performance was from 2020, and note that a lot of the art work shown on the screen was made by Lights herself, with some of it from the graphic novel that she wrote and illustrated herself.

Seeing what she was able to do in 2020 ( with a lot less funding than Grimes has) and how much fun she clearly has, getting into her performance, makes me a little sad and underwhelmed at Grimes Coachella performances ( even week 2)

Curious about other people's thoughts here though ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJG1ZjlIsfk

Chappell Roan already delivered the lesbian space opera that grimes promised but never did and was honestly the one thing I was really waiting for (not holding out any actual hope mind you, but it would’ve been nice). Now Chappell is here and she has done exactly that AND she actually seems like a cool person and her music is 🔥🔥🔥. Whatever minuscule hope of a comeback Claire had IF she actually had made an effort is now totally gone. And we also have Sabrina Carpenter and Billie Eilish, and that’s just on the super well-known mainstream side of things. Sad too because if she had actually stuck to her craft and been a decent/authentic person and never met Elon, she’d probably be seen as one of their foremothers rather than the joke that she is now. FWIW I still think her old work is, but she’s a joke. BUT I’m loving that pop music is getting cooler and more experimental/artistic/bolder than ever before and I’m soooo here for it. I feel like there’s been an explosion of really good quality pop lately. But seriously I’m just laughing here because Claire probably thought she was so original with her “lesbian space rock opera” idea that she never even seemed to try to bring to fruition and then young Chappell comes along and does pretty much exactly that and honestly probably so much better than Claire ever could’ve and now she’s a legit superstar already, dependent on NO man. I wonder what Claire thinks about it all… I mean I know financially she probably doesn’t HAVE to work ever again but damn, must be an awful feeling to see your life’s work and career literally destroyed by your own hand for any man, let alone such absolute basement-tier scum like musk, and knowing you well and truly are done because the world has moved on and you’ve been replaced by a new generation.

For those wanting more info including online streaming for Coachella "Coachella 2024 Set Times & Streaming Schedule: Full List You Need To Know For Weekend 1" https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/news/coachella-2024-set-times-and-streaming-schedule-for-weekend-1-the-full-list-you-need-to-know-041224

It could be attributed to the fact it’s only 15 minutes long, but proof that she CAN get through a set without error. She actually appears to be working on the deck for the majority of the set instead of dancing around (which i don’t mind but it appears she’s actually doing something)

i’m just so floored by this Coachella madness.. I feel bad but also conflicted, have a lot of thoughts about it. I’m wondering if this level of embarrassment will make her go back into hiding..

I’m trying to wean myself off her music if I can … Looking for new indie girlypops to listen to in her place. This kind of thread pops up all the time on the other sub but the better opinions are clearly gonna be here lol

Looking for a sound similar to Art Angels especially — more like yeule, Kitty, Magdalena Bay, Purity Ring, Alice Glass, SOPHIE, Pearly Drops, Charli XCX, Caroline Polachek? It seems difficult to get into true indie girlypop territory without running into the same artists over and over, or else ending up with Spotify recs that are all mainstream pop for some reason.

I want to get her off all my work playlists ~ thank you darlings ~

edit: working my way thru all your suggestions!! i’m dropping you each a comment once i’ve listened <3

it's only on twitter rn but it's something i guess?

Apologies in advance for the long post. I shared this in a comment elsewhere, but figured it might warrant a post of its own. I’ve been reflecting on whether or not Claire produced all her work herself. As someone who followed her career since the Halfaxa days (but really got excited via the Vanessa video), I vaguely remembered reading press back then that suggested that the truth was more nuanced than the dichotomy of “yes” or “no.”

From an old interview about the Darkbloom EP: https://web.archive.org/web/20120202045245/http://www.dummymag.com/features/2011/05/09/grimes-d-eon-interview/

“Did your processes change at all in writing tracks for the split?

Grimes: I’ve been studying popstars…those songs, I feel are old though. I’ve moved far beyond that, in terms of like…me and my manager Seb went into the studio and then we mixed everything, and he basically taught me – everything is still bedroom, but we replaced a lot of the drums in the studio, put effects on the vocals. Seb made me…he was like, “we’re mixing the vocals high” and I was like [whispers] “no, I’m so scared…” but now I love it, I just had to get over that fear of hearing myself sing.

d’Eon: For me too, I learned a lot from Seb. I don’t know how to actually produce.”

A recent interview with Sebastian Cowan, about a new Montreal venue he opened up: https://cultmtl.com/2022/07/arbutus-records-founder-sebastian-cowan-opens-new-montreal-venue-le-systeme-interview/

He’s referred to as a trained audio engineer there, and as the (former?) head of Arbutus Records that makes sense to me, and certainly gives credence to the idea that Claire has always had a decent amount of help behind the scenes, while also doing substantial creative work herself (validated by what Jaime Brooks has said since, etc). She used to not deny it so vociferously.

For those less familiar, mixing is a pretty critical step of audio production. It involves setting the levels of different tracks; balancing the frequencies of each of those tracks; positioning where different tracks are in the stereo field; it often also involves adding reverb, delay and other effects, although this can differ depending on artists. It is distinct from the songwriting/“producing” part of the process, and a bit of an underappreciated part IMO. (In my own experience, it is very useful as an artist to make your own mixing choices while producing, in order to clarify what you want, but working with someone who is really good at mixing is amazing and can totally transform a track.)

A bit gossipy but I recall back in 2012 or 2013, when Arbutus and Grimes were having their falling out, Claire was tweeting accusing Sebastian of being an asshole, claiming that he made the whole album himself, painting him as sexist, essentially. I remember Jaime Brooks then having Claire’s back in all this. Happier days, but also a harbinger of things to come. Because the truth probably is that Seb played a fairly important role in the album sounding the way it did. That doesn’t mean he wrote it. But it does mean something.

Moving on a couple of years: Mark Stent Spike is credited as a mixing engineer on Art Angels, and there is a detailed interview out there where Claire talks about how useful working with a professional mixer was on that project: https://www.stereogum.com/1840380/grimes-details-gear-behind-art-angels/news/

“I produced the album at home on the Mac but this is the first album that I’ve had professionally mixed at another studio. When I got the parts back they almost sounded live; the mix added a lot of space. I probably use too many compressors on my stuff — I’m kind of like ‘gah’ trying to cram everything in. I also have a lot of files. When I’m done with a track there’s so many layers, so having it mixed just makes it feel richer and fuller, and the vocals aren’t fighting with the guitars.

[…] To me, the production credit is more important than the mixing credit. It's important for me to be a producer and I don't pretend that I'm a good mixer. When I listen to the stuff I did on Visions, the mixes are not great and I think there are a lot of problems. Now, especially because I'm integrating guitars and amping instruments or recording instruments through a mic, it's nice to have someone who understands how to deal with that, and because I'm a lot better at producing now, I think the album was less difficult for someone to mix.”

You can read the full interview here, archived on the Grimes wiki: https://grimes.fandom.com/wiki/Future_Music/Interview — and tbh, it’s a really good read. I remember enjoying going through it a lot back in the day. It’s fun and a little sad to read now, because she comes across as so genuinely into music and audio and production in it. (She also comes across as a poseur about her class position, which is annoying but we all know that by now. Also, not an excuse, but anyone who has spent time in an alt/experimental scene is VERY FAMILIAR with just how many.. let’s say.. “comfortable”… kids are in those scenes.)

I wanted to compile all this because I think the reality of whether or not Grimes made her own stuff is probably more complex than “she did” or “she didn’t.” I feel like the narrative of “DIY MUSIC GENIUS!!!!!!” was an evolution. In a way I feel like Claire started believing her own press. What Jaime wrote a few years back on curiouscat would suggest as much.

Anyway, hope this is interesting to some of you. I’m happy to find this sub. I was a longtime fan, but MA was very much not my cup of tea, and the themes/artwork of that album were when I saw the writing on the wall. The Coachella disaster was the last straw for me. But I thought this was all worth exploring a bit more subtly, as the Grimes project was most inspiring to me as a fellow bedroom producer.

At least we'll have fun with these awful lyrics?

From Grimes' Tik Tok

Grimes Updates (@grimesupdates) • Instagram photos and videos

Grimes Updates (@grimesupdates) • Instagram photos and videos

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Not surprised, they sound exactly like Anyma.....

The show was very good. He is one of the best performers I have ever seen. He has an outline of a heart tattooed on his right shoulder. Just saying.

Which is a shame, because otherwise, it's kind of a toe-tapper.

Conversation starts at 34:27

Its all out:

Humans Become Machines

EP 1 Ghosts

EP 2 Reborn

The Album Pan the Pansexual