Halfaxa

Released in 2010, Halfaxa is the second full-length effort from Claire Boucher, better known as Grimes. While her debut, Geidi Primes, explored pop structures through a lo-fi lens, Halfaxa is a significant pivot toward experimentalism and atmospheric world-building. Boucher has famously described the record as her 'medieval' album, aiming to evoke the feeling of 'believing in God in a very Medieval Christian way.' This is reflected in the liturgical quality of the vocal arrangements and the expansive, cathedral-like reverb that defines the production. Recorded primarily in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the album is a cornerstone of the early 2010s 'witch house' and 'glo-fi' movements, though it transcends those labels through Boucher's unique melodic sensibilities. It remains a fan favorite for its uncompromising vision and its role as the bridge between her primitive early recordings and the high-definition art-pop of Visions.