Maryze Drops Sinister New Music Video for "Emo" (Hot Tramp Records)

 

Still from “Emo” by Maryze

Spooky season has reached its peak, and Montreal’s alt-popstar Maryze is here to celebrate with a brand-new music video for “Emo”. The single first garnered nostalgic admiration upon the release of 8 — Maryze’s debut album, out earlier this year via Hot Tramp Records — for its torment and evocation, reminiscent of artists like Green Day and Avril Lavigne. With the release of this video, Maryze sculpts a queer love story turned horrifically upside-down.

Still from “Emo” by Maryze

The self-directed video begins with a tender honeymoon phase between Maryze and model/artist Brit Carpenter. The pair is depicted lounging on the bed and laughing through skateboarding lessons, entangled in the purity of infatuation. But their spark turns into a destructive flame, with angst and toxicity steering their relationship out of control and towards a bloody end.

Detailing the theories behind their grungy and dysfunctional nightmare, Maryze shared:

I always seek out queer representation in horror, so this music video is my little contribution. I also feel like queer narratives lack the nuance that straight relationships receive in film, so I wanted to portray all the sides of the story, from beautiful tender moments to scary unhealthy fights. The horror aspect is left pretty ambiguous and moves into a more experimental art direction. We set out to use horror devices to illustrate the toxicity of relationships without having any explicit on-screen violence. I wanted the viewer to be left asking: “who killed who?”

To fully realize her cinematic vision, Maryze created the video concept with horror screenwriter Joel H. Brewster. The visuals were shot by artist Janette King and edited by Solomon Krause-Imlach, who also produced the song.

With its gory and gruesome complexity, this depiction of “Emo” fits magically within Maryze’s universe of transcendence.

Watch the video for “Emo” below, and catch Maryze DJing at the M for Montreal after-party (co-presented by Hot Tramp and Also Cool)!


Maryze

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YouTube | Spotify | SoundCloud | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok

Rebecca Judd is the features editor of Also Cool Mag.


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Also Cool's FME 20th Anniversary Top Picks: Round One

 

Elizabete Balčus by Zane Zelmene

Once again, we’re packing up and heading to Rouyn-Noranda over the Labour Day long weekend to hit FME in Abitibi-Témiscamingue! The jam-packed four-day festival never disappoints, and this year’s lineup in celebration of its 20th anniversary is stacked with familiar favourites and new must-see acts for us here at Also Cool (and maybe you, too!) Get a taste for the artists we’ll be catching this weekend in the first edition of our FME 20th Anniversary Top Picks below!

Mitch Davis by Richmond Lam

Mitch Davis 

Montreal producer and multi-instrumentalist Mitch Davis boasts a smooth take on indie rock that we’re excited to hear in a live context for the first time! We became acquainted with Davis’ sunny breakup songs over the pandemic, and have been hooked on his Easter egg-laden jams ever since. In our recent interview with Davis, we entertained touring his debut LP The Haunt with a full band, so it feels full circle to have this long-anticipated set on our list.

Mitch Davis plays Café L’Abstracto on Sunday, September 4th at 5PM. 

Mitch Davis

Instagram | Bandcamp

Alicia Clara by Tess Roby

Alicia Clara 

Dream-pop songstress Alicia Clara brings a delicate whimsy to her songwriting, refined on her brand new single “Only Fools Wish For Love”. The track invites anticipation for her next offering, her EP Velveteen, which arrives on October 28th via Hot Tramp. When guesting on our podcast Also Cool Sounds Like, Clara spoke to the isolation she was experiencing in contrast to the momentum of moving to Montreal from Switzerland. With a taste of what’s to come from Clara, we’re eager to hear new work from her at the festival. 

Alicia Clara plays Guinguette Chez Edmund - Scène Fonderie Horne on Sunday, September 4th at 2PM. 

Alicia Clara

Website | Instagram | Bandcamp

Elizabete Balčus by Zane Zelmene

Elizabete Balčus 

All the way from Rïga, Latvia, neo-psychedelic avant-gardist Elizabete Balčus weaves spectral vocals, flute and electronics into otherworldly sonic collages. We were introduced to Balčus’ Nina Hagen-meets-Björk compositions through our friends at Mothland and instantly fell in love with her surreal performance theatrics. Balčus plays FME hot on the heels of her upcoming album Hotel Universe, set to arrive September 16th via Mothland. We implore you to fall down the rabbit hole into Balčus’ fantastical daydream where she rules with innovative fascination. 

Elizabete Balčus plays the Videotron Stage - 200 Murdoch Avenue on Saturday, September 3rd at 8PM. 

Elizabete Balčus

Instagram | Bandcamp

Kee Avil by Lawrence Fafard

Kee Avil 

The brainchild of Montreal-based composer Vicky Mettler, Kee Avil combines guitar, voice and electronic production “to create songs that teeter on the edge of collapse while oozing forward, like sticky wax picking up and shedding disparate elements along the way.” Mettler’s intimate songcraft entrances listeners with whisper-like vocals and post-punk structures, transforming a space of any size into an immersive musical experience. Mettler’s striking stage presence struck a chord with us at the most recent edition of Ottawa-Hull’s PIQUE festival, making their debut LP Crease now a constant rotation. 

Kee Avil plays the Hub Desjardins - 218 Murdoch Avenue on Friday, September 2nd at 5PM. 

Kee Avil

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Sheenah Ko via Bandcamp

Sheenah Ko

Also a core member of Besnard Lakes, Montreal-based synth-pop artist Sheenah Ko’s work is “avant garde electronic pop for those who want to get into a trance, get into a vibe, get deep and get real”. We virtually co-presented Sheenah at Taverne Tour x Also Cool Present: Into the Matrix with Andy Jon and Sheenah Ko in early February of this year, and cannot wait to hear songs from her latest album Future is Now, released this past May.

Sheenah Ko plays Guinguette Chez Edmund - Scène Fonderie Horne on Friday, September 2nd at 9PM.

Sheenah Ko

Website | Instagram | Bandcamp

Grim Streaker via Mothland

Grim Streaker

Brooklyn’s Grim Streaker sport weirdo sing-talk rock that you cannot help but bop to. Their latest album MIND is described as “a surreal, subversive world of four songs that reflects on the current state of mental health, laughable social constructs and the inescapable working grind”. Grim Streaker, now signed to Mothland, have been making their way around the United States opening for acts like Idles and METZ.

Work for a dime/Get back in line/Zip up your mouth - MIND

Grim Streaker plays Cabaret de la Dernière Chance on Thursday, September 1st at 11:59PM.

Grim Streaker
Instagram | Bandcamp

Tamar Aphek by Rotem Lebel

Tamar Aphek

Israeli concert-pianist-turned-distortion-guitarist Tamar Aphek takes the stage at FME opening for Chad Vangaalen. She’s been a part of Israel’s underground scene for over a decade, known for asking her collaborators to “play as crazy as [they] can.”

Aphek thinks of her performances as plays or cinematic experiences and considers the characters and roles she and her bandmates play. In her song “All I Know”, she peels back so many layers of who they are and what the characters want that “eventually nobody knows who is who in the song.”

Tamar Aphek plays Scène Hydro Québec - 112 7e Rue on Friday, September 2nd at 9PM.

Tamar Aphek

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FME

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Maryze Shares Queer Nightclub Inspired New Single "Experiments" from Debut Album

 

Still from “Experiments”

We could all do with a little queer club fantasy right about now. We're dreaming of that first night back on the dance floor, colourful lights and smoke machines flickering between you and that cute person across the room... If you're feeling what we're feeling, Maryze's latest "Experiments" is the perfect 2000s-pop-inspired track to get you in the mood.

For those unfamiliar, Maryze (she/they) is our local alt-pop queen, finding fans among those of Caroline Polachek, Charli XCX, Britney Spears, or Nelly Furtado. Inspired by her Celtic roots, years of studying jazz, and a healthy obsession with emo as a teenager, Maryze's music transcends genre while still providing one hook after the other.

Photo by Taylor Priede

"Experiments" is a dark and sexy 2000s club banger produced by Jeshway and inspired by Timbaland beats and ominous but fun tracks like Nelly Furtado's “Maneater”. Thematically, it focuses on sexuality, taboos, and shame, exploring vulnerability in intimacy and how sometimes letting go of control allows us to truly be in control. Dancey and grindable, "Experiments" shows Maryze's playful side, featuring breathy R&B vocals and spoken studio session snippets à la Britney Spears. The release has also become popular on TikTok, inspiring a glam transition trend. Check it out here!

The equally iconic and sexy music video lands us in a mysterious, sensual and surreal universe, oscillating between intimate close-ups and dramatic wide shots, soft blur and sharp focus. Maryze joins forces with another local legend, Ariana Molly, to create a beautiful queer nightclub-inspired alternate reality. It's a nod to the early 2000s, where pop icons were unapologetically sexy and powerful, with the feeling of strength and sensual divinity oozing from its pores. The sound and visuals for "Experiments" are a clear step up and beautiful evolution of Maryze's creative career, ushering us into the alt queen's new era.

"Experiments" is from Maryze's upcoming debut album 8, which is available for pre-order now. Keep an eye out for more witchy releases coming very soon!

Watch "Experiments" below

Maryze

TikTok | Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Malaika Astorga is the Co-Founder & Creative Director of Also Cool. She is a Mexican-Canadian visual artist, writer, and social media strategist currently based in Montreal.


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M For Montreal Partners with Also Cool for Hot Tramp Record Showcase

 

Looking to start your week off right? Good news: the 16th edition of M for Montreal is on! This year's hybrid festival features panels, showcases and a brand new festival offering under the M for Marathon banner, presented by SiriusXM. With this latest unveiling, music fans will be treated to a jam-packed pop, rock and hip-hop program. M for Montreal will be held online from November 15th to 26th and IRL from November 17th to 19th.

We’re excited to be co-presenting the Hot Tramp Night showcase on November 19th at 9PM EST at l’Esco, featuring an absolutely stacked lineup, including: Janette King, Maryze, TRP.P, Witch Prophet and Shades Lawrence.

Check out the event page and get your tickets — you won’t want to miss this return to live music hosted by one of our favourite independent labels, Hot Tramp!

More info about the artists below!

Janette King

Janette King is a producer, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and DJ based in Montreal. Janette’s unique sound blends together soulful vocals, upbeat production style, and honest lyrics to create a truly captivating listening experience.

Website | Instagram | Spotify

Maryze

Maryze is a bilingual singer-songwriter based in Montreal, originally from Vancouver. Her haunting alt-pop conjures an intimate universe, blending contagious beats with introspective lyrics on mental health, feminism and sexuality. Balancing angst and euphoria in electronic ballads, she offers a refreshing voice with fiery honesty.

Website | Instagram | Spotify

TRP.P

TRP.P (pronounced "trippy") is an R&B duo hailing from Toronto, Canada. Comprised of Truss (producer, singer/songwriter) and Phoenix Pagliacci (singer-songwriter), the dynamic duo met in 2015 and have been collaborating in music and life ever since. Their 80s/90s R&B inspiration takes a modern twist with powerful lyrics into uncharted topics, celebrating queer love and empowering their communities by brightening a spotlight on injustices and oppression.

Website | Instagram | Spotify

Witch Prophet

Witch Prophet is a queer, Ethiopian/Eritrean, singer-songwriter, and the Co-CEO of Heart Lake Records. She provides her fans with a soundscape of vocal layers, loops, raps, and harmonies on a bed of hip-hop, jazz, and soul-inspired beats. Think Erykah Badu meets Lauryn Hill meets Portishead. She finds depth and connection in creating music as a portal for self-growth and discovery, as she navigates and better understands her cultural and queer identity.

Website | Instagram | Spotify

Shades Lawrence

Shades Lawrence is a Montreal born and based hip hop artist of mixed British, Jamaican, Irish and Scottish descent. A pure lyricist, Shades Lawrence’s style can be described as alternative hip hop.  Her words uplift, while keeping environmental justice at the forefront. To date, her style has been compared to Lauryn Hill, Shad, and Jean Grae.

Website | Instagram | Spotify

Poster by Emmanuelle Wielgus

Hot Tramp

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M for Montreal

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