Photo Credit Lindsey Blane
Montreal’s bilingual alt-popstar Maryze shares a dreamy, emotional music video for fan-favourite track “Playing Dress-up” off her debut album 8, released last summer on Hot Tramp Records.
The melancholic visuals, shot on a desolate LA beach at sunrise, feature a vulnerable performance from Maryze of her most stripped-down song, with only piano accompanying her vocals. “Let’s pretend that we’re the exception, when I go I will come back, and you won’t sit here wondering where I went”, the artist begs as she walks along the rocky shore alone.
Tell us about Montreal Pride festival. Are you excited and what should we expect?
It’s my first time officially performing at Montreal Pride and I’m so excited! I’ve been part of a panel before but never an actual show. It’s for the Glitter Bomb party at Place Émilie-Gamelin on August 3 (free). Expect both DJ and live performances from amazing artists like Awwful, Sam Blake… and maybe some new music from me?
What was it like to perform with Alex Cameron? Are you guys tight?
That was a really fun and serendipitous experience! I met Alex at one of his Cara Hotel residency shows and he invited me to come up to sing some French songs the following week. The venue has this iconic LA charm, everyone dresses up and you feel kind of transported to a different era. Alex was kind and welcoming – I connected with lots of cool artists through that show.
Tell us about what inspired ‘Playing Dress Up’. Any real life anecdotes or experiences behind it?
Each verse in ‘Playing Dress-up’ is about a different impactful person in my life. The first is my current partner, the 2nd is my sister/best friend Zoé, and the third is an ex who I really hurt. The song explores regrets, fears, and nostalgia in each of those relationships, as well as love. I’m really proud of the story-telling and think it showcases my songwriting abilities in a more stripped-down way than my usual pop production.
What inspires your looks and aesthetics overall?
I’ve always loved vintage fashion and thrifting for as long as I can remember. Even as a child I was cutting up hand-me-downs, creating new outfits, and experimenting with styles. So I guess my inspiration comes from thrift stores, outfits I see people wearing in the street or at shows (Montreal is a fashion capital in my opinion), and nowadays cool pieces I see on TikTok and social media.
How do you come up with concepts and ideas for music videos?
When I write a song, there’s usually a visual accompaniment in my mind. It grows with the track during the creative process, and if it feels like a strong enough idea, I try to bring it to fruition. My songs come in a wide range of styles and genres, from emo to Y2K pop-R&B, so that also influences the concept. There’s always spookiness/darkness though. Horror and 2000s music videos are often a source of inspiration.
How would you define your style, music and artistic persona?
Fluid, sexy, witchy, campy, instinctive
