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Renowned as one of Montreal’s powerful electronic artists, Marie Davidson’s album “City Of Clowns”, released in 2025 was indeed a colossal stride in her creative career. The album, produced under the reputable Soulwax’s Deewee imprint, marked an artistic return to her roots with an interpretive blend of her earlier minimal electro inspired work. The melodic symphony between her raw music and crafted synthetic beats was a clear indicator of her matured style as seen in the tracks ‘Sexy Clown’ and ‘Contrarian’. These songs are remarkable highlights of the album, teetering on the edge of avant-garde pop and pulsating acid music.
Born in 1987, Davidson’s foray into electronic music stemmed from her Canadian roots in Montreal. She has been a part of diverse musical projects and bands, including the ethereal duo Les Momies de Palerme alongside Xarah Dion. Additionally, she was half of the minimal wave duo Essaie pas, created in allusive conjunction with Pierre Guerineau. Essaie pas’ infamous album, “Demain est une autre nuit”, even secured a nomination for the esteemed 2016 Polaris Music Prize. Aptly balancing between the realms of techno and minimal wave music, Davidson evokes an icy, luring aura that distinguishes her music.
The album “City Of Clowns”, however, usurped the echelons of the musical realm, resonating with Davidson’s ever evolving sounds. The track ‘Sexy Clown’, chilled with an urban cool, hybridizes genres by falling between high-class pop and simmering acid tunes. In contrast, the rhapsodic ‘Contrarian’ showcases Davidson’s maturity as an artist, with layers of gripping synths and powerful, ceiling-challenging kicks seamlessly unwinding into groovy breakbeats.
Throughout her remarkable career, Davidson has collaborated with distinguished artists, including avant-garde saxophonist Matana Roberts and electro-acoustic artist David Kristian. Her music has been lauded by critics, such as Pitchfork, which included her solo album “Adieux au dancefloor” in their “The 20 Best Electronic Albums of 2016”. Her unique signature sound has been described as a composition of hypnotic minimal wave with analog synthesizers and drum machines. Moreover, her lyrics offer an intimate yet distant insight, often emotionally charged and presented in a spoken word style. Critics compare her sound to the electroclash of Miss Kittin and idyllic dissonance of Julee Cruise, the wonderfully unique blend making her a standout artist in the world of electronic music.
Davidson’s passion is not confined to merely creating music, but extends to expressing her ambiguity towards dance music and club culture. She shared this sentiment in her release “Working Class Woman” on Ninja Tune in 2018. Her incisive exploration of social themes reflects in her music, making her an instrumental figure in the electronic genre. Her latest venture, “City Of Clowns” presents an invigorating addition to her illustrious portfolio, securing Marie Davidson’s spot as a pioneer in the ever-evolving realm of electronic music.
