M for Montreal 2024 | Festival Recap of Emerging Talent & Eclectic Sounds
After 19 years, M for Montreal is still as limber and layered as ever, giving us an eclectic platter of styles that cover a wide range of today’s music scene.
A Night of Camera Candy
All three of the shows we attended on Friday, November 22nd, could best be described as camera candy.
Naomi: A Fierce Force
The night started up with Naomi at Club Soda. She’s a showman, surrounded with all the staples of a pop music superstar, but this local singer-songwriter wins you over with her powerful voice and strong stage presence. She isn’t about all the well-coiffed accoutrements; she’s a caged tiger wanting out.
She’s something fierce with a solid vision and strong aesthetic ideas. Her dancers were divided into two groups, one representing the stage performer and the other a more street-like, girl-next-door sensibility.
Her ideas have so far translated beautifully to video, and I feel we are getting to witness how this translates to her live stage representation. Soon her power will be on full display, and the live shows, that are already well thought out in terms of costume and playmates, are going to blossom into something unseen on this city’s circuit.
I, for one, cannot wait for the genie to be out of the bottle and on full display.
Claudia Bouvette: The Good-Time Gal
She was followed up by Claudia Bouvette.
Claudia is a good-time gal that rolls with the punches. A local francophone, she’s fully bilingual, and her music reflects that.
She opened with “Fait du bruit pour toutes les girls qui sont montées avant moi,” referencing Naomi, and I like that she gives thanks to her bandmates and never hesitates to big-up the acts that came before. It shows both confidence and kindness, signs of a talent unafraid to stay humble.
She’s like Cigarettes After Sex with a pulse. Like when 90s pop rock meets grunge with bits of a youthful, happy Tori Amos. Did she love PJ Harvey? Probably. Fiona Apple with less angst, anger, or revolutionary desire for a new generation? Yes.
Claudia’s Musical Journey
Birthed from a successful run on Mixmania 12 years ago when the world was young, she is just now entering the pocket, and it’ll be nice to watch her grow into herself. I’m hoping to see her leaning more towards expressionist experimentation.
The lyrics of her song Silver Lining have ladies swooning, connecting, and sharing. Every once in a while, there’s a flutter of Kate Bush in her gaze or musicality. You want her to explore her vocal range. She’s the kind of girl you want to sing shroomed-out karaoke with, just to see how much she can bring it and what she can do. A good-time gal, skipping about town, going lightly straight into your heart.
A Blend of Catchy Melodies
Her melodies are catchy, sometimes even reminding us of The Strokes in their prime. She fills a niche, a space to not be a pushover or afraid to explore your feelings. She occupies the same space as the many legends mentioned above, or a Lana Del Rey with more instrumental grit and musicianship.
I, for one, can’t wait to see her enter a Mazzy Star phase where she explores the deserts of her soul with a country twang. Maybe have a black-and-white video where she’s wearing flowing garbs in the desert winds or something?
Unpretentious Authenticity
I’m joking around, but a huge part of her charm is her unpretentious authenticity. She keeps it light and fun while being deep without ever pretending to be. She walks a tightrope of infinite potential, and the crowd literally went INSANE for everything she had to offer.
Win the people, win your freedom—you’ve got the people by the balls. Please take us someplace nice, all your own, and worthy of your many talents.
Clodelle: A Smokin’ Hot Icon
I already talked about Clodelle in another article, so I won’t spend too much time on her here. But she’s a smokin’ hot Michèle Richard for a new generation. She’s got Brigitte Bardot charm, a wide range of musical influences, and a treasure trove of collaborators. “Big up to Bennie!” She appreciates her producers and musicians, she’s thankful for what she’s got, she’s surrounded by friends and family who love and support her, and if she sticks to this thing, there are no heights she cannot attain.
Her beats are dope. She just needs to warm to the occasion a little, chill out, let it come, and own the moment.
The Breastfeeders: Plateau 90s Vibes
On Saturday, November 23rd, over at Théâtre Fairmount, Les Breastfeeders killed it as per usual with their patented glam-rockabilly. The whole thing felt like what the Plateau was like in the 90s before all the France expats. It was tight and hype with sick solos, solid energy, killer guitar licks, and the crazy Uncle Fester/Riff Raff-lookin’ dude playing the tambourines bringing it harder than anybody else in the goddam building.
Fuudge: The Era of Experimental Rock
We then hopped in a whip to the famed Sala Rossa where Fuudge took FOREVER to take to the stage.
They might legitimately be Québec’s best current (newish) rock band right now. Their range encompasses all things rock—70s, 90s, and contemporary. Poetic and playful, experimental while being tried and true, Fuudge is on the come-up, and I think they’re going to be big. Mark my words, this is the era of Fuudge… or something, I don’t know…
M pour Montréal’s Future Looks Bright
In the end, M pour Montréal is 19 and really coming into its own. Next year is the big 20; hopefully, they will pull out all the stops and kick all the asses with a few surprises and a couple of throwbacks but with their eyes steadily on the future…
In either case, we’ll be there, to tell you what to expect and how it goes.
Peace! Oh, and feel to visit our TOP 10 staff picks here.
