Grimes Plays Dress-Up With Purity Ring, HANA, Others in Dreamy ‘California’ Video [WATCH]

Electronic art-pop oddball Grimes has dropped the dreamy new video for the Art Angels single, "California." It looks like it was an absolute blast to film: the Canadian, born Claire Boucher, plays dress-up and channels the likes of Dolly Parton and old-school Hollywood starlets with the help of friends including Megan James of Purity Ring, frequent collaborator HANA, Cecil Frena of Born Gold, model Eric Cheng, and her brother, Mac Boucher.

As was the case with previously released videos for Art Angels tracks "Kill V. Maim" and "Flesh Without Blood," Boucher directed the "California" clip alongside her brother Mac, Thump reports. It features the singer rocking out in several different scenes that are like parallel universes: she rocks a black beret and saddle shoes in a sculpture studio, ribbon dances in a color-blocked gymnasium, and goes all-out rhinestone cowgirl in a sequined American flag bodysuit.

There are mermaids, witches and sparkly revelers in each scene that perfectly match the song's tone, which on first view seems a bit different than what appeared on the album. The video, in fact, features an alternate mix of the track that's a bit heavier on the seapunk synths.

Grimes took to Twitter to explain her decision to use a different arrangement of "California" for the video, Pitchfork reports. Apparently, the footage paired with the original mix felt "dissonant." In her words:

Watch the video, and listen to the alternate version of "California," below:

Those who follow the singer-songwriter's social media accounts will likely take note that the new video was filmed before her recent dramatic haircut. In the hours leading up to the clip's release, Boucher had posted an a series of selfies featuring her in-progress at-home haircut. The end results, posted on her Instagram, are just enough to head-bang on stage.

Tags

Grimes, Purity ring, Dolly Parton