28 Mar 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Michèle Ducray - Single Review: Monster

26 May 2023 // A review by Danica Bryant

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.

Rating: ( 4 / 5 )
 

About Michèle Ducray

Originally from the humble shores of Durban, South Africa, Michèle Ducray is a versatile, fiery vocalist and singer-songwriter. She began writing and singing her own songs at the tender age of 11, whilst based overseas in China. Travelling to many different places around the world at such a young age, exposed her to a variety of music. She drew inspiration from these experiences, settling on an alternative pop sound and applied them to her own musical endeavours. When Michèle writes, she tends to draw from her own experiences in life and utilises this through metaphorical subconscious imagery, aiming to leave her audience feeling like they have lived through these moments, themselves.

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

There are no releases to display for Michèle Ducray.

Other Reviews By Danica Bryant

Gig Review: Homegrown 2024 @ Wellington Waterfront - 16/03/2024 Part 1
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...
Bird Machine - EP Review: Hey Human
25 Feb 2024 // by Danica Bryant
Their name is animal, but their music is undeniably human. Bird Machine's latest release is a five-track collection of shoegazing pop-rock, composed by husband and wife duo Luke and Jenna Grbin.
Read More...
Peyton Morete - Album Review: The End To The Beginning
11 Dec 2023 // by Danica Bryant
Poneke artist Peyton Morete goes big with her self-produced album The End to the Beginning, a high-concept collection following the ups and downs of a life and the cyclical nature of the world. The record encompasses a variety of genres from cinematic soundscape pieces and acoustic pop to elements of rap and R&B, all held together by Morete's charismatic vocal performance.
Read More...
VÏKÆ - Album Review: Love Games Deluxe
26 Nov 2023 // by Danica Bryant
Auckland artist VÏKÆ never stops with her busy musical output, with her latest release Love Games Deluxe serving as another welcome entry in her catalogue. It's a project that perfectly encapsulates her brand of singable yet strange, weird yet wonderful, asking you to dance with the threat of dragging you if you resist.
Read More...
MOHI - Album Review: Elements of Aroha
26 Nov 2023 // by Danica Bryant
MOHI is a bilingual artist, bending music and language to bear his soul. His new album Elements of Aroha circles its recurring motif of love as a force of nature, connecting people to the land in a tranquil musical journey.
Read More...
Jupita - EP Review: Want You Back
16 Nov 2023 // by Danica Bryant
Julia Morris is a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter hailing from Auckland, stepping out as indie-pop soloist Jupita on the debut EP Want You Back.Whilst the opening track's title Anxiety might fool you into thinking this will be a heavy moment and collection, this number is actually incredible fun.
Read More...
emerson kole - EP Review: Haunted
01 Nov 2023 // by Danica Bryant
Cleverly releasing her spooky EP Haunted on Friday 13th of October, emerson kole's new five-track collection proves how well-thought-out her artistry and sound is, with a dark alternative pop sound soaked in reverb and creepy production.Haunted invokes the feeling of walking alone at night, hoping like hell you'll make it home safe.
Read More...
View All Articles By Danica Bryant

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS (WAIT FOR YOUR LOVE)
    Ariana Grande
  • BEAUTIFUL THINGS
    Benson Boone
  • END OF BEGINNING
    Djo
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • TEXAS HOLD 'EM
    Beyonce
  • STICK SEASON
    Noah Kahan
  • PRAISE JAH IN THE MOONLIGHT
    YG Marley
  • CARNIVAL
    Kanye West And Ty Dolla $ign
  • SATURN
    SZA
  • LOVIN ON ME
    Jack Harlow
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
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 ProblemReport A Problem