Michèle Ducray - Single Review: Monster
Michèle Ducray welcomes us to the circus with her haunting new single Monster. Filled with warped carnival beats and eerie vocals, it's a Halloween anthem perfectly tailored for "fans of the peculiar".
The magic of Monster lies in its quirky circus style production. Distorted sounds of children's toys, clicking percussion and chanting vocals fill the track, crafting a suitably unsettling vibe throughout. It's a theme song for the Harley Quinns and Pennywises of the world. However, the cyclical nature of the background natures can make the song's undeniably unique hook feel less dynamic than it could. Regardless, Ducray has certainly achieved the intent to combine horror and happiness into one incomparable concoction.
Ducray delivers a vocal performance that's simultaneously light and airy, yet deep and dark. Sometimes her lyrics are harder to make out than they could be. But when you catch them, they're highly visual. Imagery of a "nasty little gremlin" scaling mountains and dancing through the halls paints an incredibly enthralling picture that gives the song a strong, unique artistic identity. It's furthered by a spooky music video, offered up in blood-red hues and shuddering shots of a creature pursuing Ducray, which will send shivers down your spine.
Monster is a very specific song, taking the term "dark pop" to an extreme. Its weirdness is its exact appeal, proving Michèle Ducray is ready to pave a path in Aotearoa music that's truly one of a kind.
About Michèle Ducray
After gaining a better understanding of musical theory, In 2019, Michèle sought to create a covers band to enhance her performance experience around Christchurch city, whilst writing and performing her original music to the side. She has since played local festivals, radio stations, clubs/bars and musical productions; with upcoming Spaced Out Sessions concerts being held at Grater Goods with 212 Music Group.
Deciding to breathe technical life into her own music, she reached out to popular music producers Devin Abrams and Simon Gooding, last year, whom both collaborated on her first single, Midnight, which is due to be released this May. Described as “super dope” by Tiki Taane and Big Sima, Midnight tells a tale of tragedy and the awareness of how isolated one can feel in times of uncertainty. This hauntingly, majestic piece was written during the COVID-16 lockdown period.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Michèle Ducray
Releases
Other Reviews By Danica Bryant
Adam Hattaway & The Haunters - Album Review: High Horse
07 Nov 2024 // by Danica Bryant
Marking their sixth album in six years, High Horse is the latest impressive release from Christchurch powerhouses Adam Hattaway and the Haunters. Unlike the boisterous rock and roll ventures which precede it, High Horse is an intimate, eerie project made with a small group of collaborators.
Read More...
Tess Liautaud - Album Review: Blue Mind
25 Oct 2024 // by Danica Bryant
As the modern musical generation dive headfirst into digital production, home studios and the art of the solo performance, it’s hard to remember the days of the traditional, all-out band jam session. But Tess Liautaud’s beautiful sophomore record Blue Mind proves that lifestyle is alive and well in Otautahi.
Read More...
Claudia Robin Gunn - Album Review: Little Wild Learning
16 Sep 2024 // by Danica Bryant
The art of writing children's music is deceptively harder than people might expect. The songs are easy to listen to and lyrically simple, but they must incorporate educational vocabulary, introduce new ideas about life, and maintain a catchiness that gives young listeners a fun experience, rather than one that could be overwhelming.
Read More...
Nur Peach - Album Review: Syncopate
21 Jun 2024 // by Danica Bryant
Coromandel Peninsula's Nur Peach is fresh off a bachelor's degree in Pop Music and is immediately "gathering momentum" to realize her dream of releasing an album. Syncopate is an eclectic pop-folk and adult contemporary record full of motivational coming-of-age material, produced in collaboration with Auckland's Scott Seabright.
Read More...
Valere - EP Review: Gold Dust
10 Jun 2024 // by Danica Bryant
Christchurch performer Valere has built an impressive catalogue over the past decade, and her latest EP Gold Dust is no exception. Informed by recent years of experiences with motherhood, marriage and familial love and loss, Valere rediscovered the simplicity of songwriting on the guitar, and has now shared six powerful tracks motivated by this artistic return.
Read More...
Aro - Album Review: He Rakau, He Ngarara
21 Apr 2024 // by Danica Bryant
Tamaki Makaurau based husband & wife duo Charles & Emily Looker, otherwise known as Aro, escape genre boundaries on their fourth body of work, He Rakau, He Ngarara. Aro's waiata draw from country and folk, jazz, and shades of haka, making for a collection that often purposefully creates sonic whiplash in a stunning exploration of sound and kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga.
Read More...
17 Mar 2024 // by Danica Bryant
By some miracle, Homegrown 2024 hits a home run and finds Welly on an infamous good day this Saturday, 16th March. That sun is blazing down as the fairground rides and colourful outfits roll out onto the waterfront.
Read More...
Amiria Grenell - Album Review: The Winter Light
12 Mar 2024 // by Danica Bryant
Otautahi folk singer Amiria Grenell boasts many accolades to her name, and her new album The Winter Light will surely add to the pack. This is a cozy collection of classic folk songs, grounded in nature, family and the endless search for true peace.
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- APT.
ROSÉ And Bruno Mars - DIE WITH A SMILE
Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars - BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Billie Eilish - TASTE
Sabrina Carpenter - I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
Gracie Abrams - ESPRESSO
Sabrina Carpenter - SAILOR SONG
Gigi Perez - LOSE CONTROL
Teddy Swims - A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
Shaboozey - GOOD LUCK, BABE!
Chappell Roan
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
