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.