Muca & La Marquise – Cheap Red Wine (2021)
Many great artists attribute their work, and ultimately success, to the influence of a muse. Beethoven had Elise, Da Vinci had the Lisa Gherardini, and Muca has La Marquise…sort of. Using his engaging melodies and moving lyricism, UK-based producer Muca expresses himself through the female character La Marquise; hence, we have Muca & La Marquise. Blending elements of indie, soul, pop and underlying jazz, the talented singer-songwriter adds vitality to his kaleidoscopic soundscape. Featured in Listen To Discover, Lost in the Manor, Amazing Radio, iHeart Radio and several podcasts, Muca (or should we say La Marquise) has an international following. The latest addition to the critically acclaimed discography is the single ‘Cheap Red Wine’.
While a solo project, ‘Cheap Red Wine’ sees a collaboration of talented artists including Jonathon Holder (keys), Yaron Stavi (bass), George Vallack (drums), Corinna Hentschel (viola and violin) and La Marquise/Muca (lead guitar). Following the jovial jazz-influenced single ‘Devil’s Dance’ (read our review here), ‘Cheap Red Wine’ adopts a slower, smoother and more languid style. The instrumentation combines effortlessly to create a hazy ambience drawing you in with its beguiling sound.
Touching on elements of loneliness, resignation, despair, yearning and inner turmoil, ‘Cheap Red Wine’ is another highly evocative addition to La Marquise’s repertoire. Reminiscent of Fiona Apple and Alanis Morissette, but with the intimacy and intensity of Sade, the vocals enhance feelings of desolation and desperation. Not out of place in a smoky jazz club, the impassioned music is a sonic representation of human fragility and vulnerability.
In addition to the single, Muca & La Marquise teamed up with visual artist Kelly Emrich to create a music video for ‘Cheap Red Wine’. Due to the strobe effects and jarring animation, the video can cause seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Yet, here is what Emrich had to say about it:
“I knew that I wanted to convey the aching loneliness, anger and resignation that the song evokes. My animations generally tend to be emotionally driven over having concrete plots, so I wanted to give this song a companion piece that delved into the despair of the song. The swirling abstractions reflect the increasing inebriation of the girl throughout the video as red wine is bought and steadily consumed. The video and song finish as the afternoon slips into dusk.”
WATCH AT OWN RISK
For more from Muca & La Marquise check out his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
