St. Vincent’s self-titled 2014 album won the 2015 Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album this evening, an honor that follows the critically acclaimed singer-guitarist’s biggest year ever — one that saw her covering Nirvana’s “Lithium” at the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, and plenty of plaudits for her own work. We spoke to Annie Clark over the phone from Australia to ask if she expected to win and what she plans to do next.
Congratulations! What were you doing when you heard the news?
Well, I was going to bed in Perth, Australia. It was seven in the morning, and my mom texted me and said, “Annie won!” It was a group text, she wasn’t referring to me in the third person. [Laughs.]
Has anyone else in your family given you a fun response?
My nephew did a video of himself dancing to “Birth in Reverse,” it was very cute. I’m just celebrating with coffee.
Which was more awesome: this or performing “Lithium” with the surviving members of Nirvana?
It’s apples and oranges, both were amazing.
When you wrote “Take out the garbage / Masturbate” were you thinking, “Yes! This is the one that will get the Grammy?”
[Laughs.] It’s all such a surprise, really. All you can do ever is to make the things that you like and believe in, and put it out in the world so people can react to it, and then it can weave its way into the fabric of their lives if it matters. I feel incredibly lucky that that happened with this record.
So what does this mean for your future plans?
Well, I think I’m putting the Grammy on a gold chain and I’m just gonna wear it around, hoping I can upgrade my airplane seat because of it. If I can squirrel my way into first class.
