Montreal-based artist Magi Merlin writes herself a pacifying ode to self-kindness on new single So Smart, recognising that, in truth, no one else holds the authority to give us the empathy we need most but ourselves. The combination of her layered vocals and radical instrumentation almost lends the song a three-dimensional feel. So Smart is the third single off POWER HOUSE, Magi Merlin’s upcoming debut album due July 10th via Bonsound.
As Magi puts it: So Smart is an ode to finding sympathy for your own self. We made it in Mexico City and I ended up having a full meltdown, broke ten years of vegetarianism over a taco and felt like a complete fraud. Funky told me I had to be nicer to myself, and then Sam played the song back and that line was just there: 'I'll push to be kinder to myself... I guess.' It's essentially about getting over myself in the most empathetic way possible.
\n Pre-save POWER HOUSE\nThis new track follows the energetic, in-your-face singles POPSTAR and SpiceKick released earlier this year, revealing another dimension to POWER HOUSE. The previous singles garnered acclaim from BBC Radio 6 Music, Clash Magazine, KCRW, KEXP, Wonderland Magazine, France Inter, FIP, CBC, Radio-Canada, Exclaim! and RANGE, among others.
About POWER HOUSE
Magi Merlin’s debut LP, POWER HOUSE, is a high-production, 12-track masterclass in modern pop - an infectious, high-energy record that feels deceptively familiar at first touch, yet every time you reach for a comparison, you realize it doesn't quite fit; a one-of-one project that remains as polished as it is daring.
Conceptually, POWER HOUSE is an exploration of the internal architecture we all inhabit, housing the conflicting rooms of anger, fear, vanity, and ultimately, a reclaimed sense of power. Where Magi Merlin’s previous work, Gone Girl, was a study of external strength, this new era is an ode to the realization that inner work is the only true outer work. With a perspective that is both empathetic and furious, and a grow-as-you-go philosophy, she proves that real change starts small but sounds massive.
\nThe record serves as a realist’s manifesto, navigating the duality of the modern female experience. Writing from her perspective as a bisexual/ENM woman, Merlin explores the contradictions of seeking validation in both platonic and romantic contexts. She deconstructs the plastic confidence used as modern armor, the performative standards of the beauty industry, and the systemic pressures that force women to navigate their lives with hyper-caution. From flashy, artificial boastfulness to radical, empathetic self-reflection, POWER HOUSE refuses to look away from the uncomfortable.
About Magi Merlin
Magi Merlin [pronounced Mahd-j-eye] calls her sound ‘Broken R&B’, but really, it’s whatever she feels like breaking down and rebuilding in the studio. It's a singular sonic universe that defies easy comparison, fusing indie pop, ’90s house, R&B, hip-hop, and jazz into a collage where the glue is a masterful use of harmonies and a clever juxtaposition of lyrical lightness and depth. Merlin doesn't just write and compose; she acts as a co-producer with long-time collaborator Funkywhat and the driving force behind the project's art direction, ensuring the visual world is as intentional and self-defined as the music.
With her 2022 EP Gone Girl, the Montreal-based artist gained praise from outlets including Bandcamp Daily, The FADER, The Line of Best Fit, and Nylon, which led to touring with Noga Erez and Omar Apollo. Ever since, Merlin has kept busy, working on new music, releasing singles and a smaller surprise project: A Weird Little Dog, which dropped as she began a US tour supporting saxophonist Nubya Garcia. She then reworked IDLES’ POP POP POP, flipping it into a club banger that she performed live for Glamcult TV. She’s made continuous festival appearances at Osheaga, Festival d’été de Québec (opening for Ty Dolla $ign), Treefort, Reeperbahn, and the Montreal International Jazz Festival, while simultaneously making her acting debut in Mile End Kicks (with Barbie Ferreira, Devon Bostick and Juliette Gariépy). After unveiling her creative work one layer at a time over the last few years, Magi Merlin will unleash POWER HOUSE, her debut album, onto the world on July 10th, 2026. The title alone tells you she’s not playing it safe.
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