Grimes (Claire Boucher) shines during SXSW

Electro-pop artist Claire Boucher, professionally known as Grimes, made a strong impression south of the border this past weekend during the SXSW music festival with her experimental style and amazing vocals.

Born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Grimes moved to Montreal in 2006 where she attended McGill University, but was expelled after skipping a year of class. In an interview with Pitchfork, she recalled her feelings after being kicked out, saying, "I no longer attend McGill, which kind of sucks because I wish I had a degree after spending that much money and time working on something." Adding, "But actually, no, it doesn't suck. I was done. Now, I'm working on music all the time."

See more: Student tap dances to pay for college on "Ellen"

Working consistently on perfecting her craft, Grimes saw her touring experience with indie rock artist Lykke Li, as a chance to improve her vocals and make her show less "jammy" and more "coherent." Telling Pitchfork, "[The tour] forced me to become a musician. Previously, I was playing shows for 30 people, and then it turned into 3,000 people." She also added, "That tour is one of the reasons why I started bringing my vocals up, because I would always [get a better reaction] if the vocals were higher in the mix."

Her hard work paid off as Grimes took the stage at a Spotify-sponsored event this past weekend in Austin, Texas and wowed the audience with her eccentric sounds and unique style.

See more: Chair brings music to the deaf

One reporter, who experienced the show live, wrote, "Surprisingly, [Grimes'] live performances replicate the tracks on the album pretty seamlessly. It doesn't hurt that she really is a talented singer, and a resourceful musician to boot."

Another concertgoer from the Los Angeles Times saw Grimes perform and noticed how far she has come in the last 12 months, writing, "These are dark, moody atmospheres -- songs that illuminate the shadows -- and on a rooftop in Austin, Grimes shook and grooved to each change in the melody, making it clear that these songs are ultimately meant for the dance floor."

Check out her music video for 'Vanessa' and preview tracks from her new album, "Visions," here.

Follow me on Twitter @GraceS35

More Up Beat stories:

Baby beatboxer gets help from Dad

11-year-old drummer receives music award nomination

Robin Thicke covers Whitney Houston