Michèle Ducray: Manifesto
New Zealand based dark pop artist Michèle Ducray creates spellbinding songs about fantasy intertwined with the mystical. Inspired by mysterious and sinister themes such as horror and the colorful characteristics of circus life, Ducray’s songs are laced with vivid imagery and suspenseful storylines.
Ducray’s musical influences include Pavarotti and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, reminiscent of her early childhood. Her sound is “haunted pop,” characterized by a mix of intoxicating vocals, deep drum & bass, and lucid pop melodies for a melancholic yet energetically upbeat immersion of seductive tones. When she creates music, Ducray visualizes fantastical scenarios, utilising metaphorical subconscious imagery. A self-confessed "fan of the peculiar", this, perhaps, is best demonstrated through her enigmatic "Peter Pan" style on stage.
Raised in both South Africa and China, Michèle Ducray emerged from a culturally diverse childhood and discovered her immense affinity for music at the very young age of eleven. By the time she was just fifteen years old, the artist realized her raw talent for songwriting while in a recording studio in ChristChurch New Zealand and decided to further her studies at a local jazz institution for formal training. From there, her music career took off, and she began writing, recording and playing shows in both New Zealand and Australia.
Michèle Ducray’s single “Midnight,” released in 2021, is an enthralling slow-burned existential dark pop debut. Written during the COVID-19 lockdown period, this hauntingly, majestic piece tells a tale of tragedy and the awareness of how isolated one can feel in times of uncertainty. Working with famed producers Simon Gooding (Hailee Steinfeld, Shapeshifter) and Devin Abrams (P!nk, Dua Lipa), “Midnight” features vast cinematic soundscapes under Ducray’s signature hypnotic soulful vocals. The track received critical acclaim being added to heavy rotation on New Zealand’s most powerful radio stations.
The artist's upcoming single “Manifesto” is “a pop-infused horror story about a serial killer chasing a victim, who might not be such a victim after all,” reveals Ducray. The daring track highlights Ducray’s vocal prowess soaring over pulsating euphoric EDM-infused beats. The thrilling story is one that the listener sees unfold, switching their perceptions on right and wrong.
Finding success performing at major festivals including Rolling Meadows, Soundsplash and Electric Avenue, Michèle Ducray is one of New Zealand’s most exciting rising artists. With “Manifesto” set for release April 8th, Ducray is bringing her unique and captivating brand of dark pop to the world.
Have a listen and connect with Michèle Ducray:
