Even though Montreal is the city of tickets, taxes, and traffic, its creatives consistently put the cold-dark majestic city on the artistic map. Magi (pronounced MADGE-eye) Merlin is no exception. It would be a disservice to call Magi just a singer/songwriter or even a musician since she is an amalgam of other creative mediums, including photography, fashion design, and video direction. The epitome of an innovative artist, she brings her infectious energy to the NAC Fourth Stage this Friday.
Merlin’s latest effort, Gone Girl, released in May 2022, showcases her expressive voice and touches on issues like generational angst, unconscious racism, and relationships with lovers and friends. Alongside Funkywhat’s rich production of funk, dance, and soul, which complements Merlin’s piercing lyricism, Gone Girl accomplishes a cohesion that flows from beginning to end. From the assertive “Milkweed” to the addictive chorus of “No Ego,” the EP shows Merlin’s diverse love of the arts and personal vulnerability in storytelling that challenges outdated tropes with confrontations for the youth of today and tomorrow.
Songs like “Milkweed” explore critical lessons like “If you apply for love/I’ve got to check your reference,” while the captivating “Pissed Black Girl” expresses pent-up frustration with the idea of the “Angry Black Woman” trope.
In December 2022, Merlin was chosen for a showcase performance as part of the SOCAN/Pop Montréal program in L.A. for anglophone Montrealers. The program offers an opportunity for artists to present their music and network with key music ecosystem personnel in Los Angeles.
Merlin recently teamed up with Montreal’s electro-soul/hip-hop band Busty and the Bass for a new single called “Far from Here,” subsequently announcing Merlin as the opener for their March residencies in Montreal and Toronto.
Momentum is picking up for Merlin, and she assures her fans: “There is definitely a lot of new music on the way that I’m super hyped to share! Can’t say too much, but it’s stuff that I feel really pushes me forward and I think might even challenge some listeners, which I always find cool.”
Magi Merlin plays the NAC Fourth Stage (1 Elgin St.) on Friday, February 24, at 8:30pm. Tickets are $15.
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