Magi Merlin.
Photo by Feng Jiang.
Montreal-based singer Magi Merlin (pronounced madge-eye) makes dark, atmospheric R&B that recreates the feeling of walking through a smoke-filled club as lights flash across the floor. Take "Mock Meat," from last year's Drug Music EP, a patient and tense song that teases a euphoric drop in its chorus that doesn't fully arrive until the song's final minute. Today, her new song and video "Free Grillz" is being premiered on The FADER.
"Free Grillz" started off as a challenge from creative partner Funkywhat, who produced the track, and finds Magi exploring a vein of clubby, braggadocious rap in the vein of London's Shygirl. Magi's breathy delivery converts all of her taunts into icy daggers aimed directly at clingy men and people who mispronounce her name. Even though this was her first time writing a song like this, Magi sounds especially comfortable in this mode and slips between a stern deadpan and playful schoolyard taunts. Check out the Walid Jabri-directed video for "Free Grillz" below.
"This track was originally written as a request/order from good buddy and main collaborator Funkywhat," Magi said about the song in a press release. "I had never written a rap track so it was a moment of exploration. It developed and became a track that I truly feel empowered by. I call out the people who constantly mispronounce my name and I brag about big butts and money I haven’t made yet. A win-win-win for me, Magi!"