MAGI MERLIN’S DEBUT ALBUM, POWER HOUSE, DUE OUT VIA BONSOUND JULY 10, 2026
WATCH / SHARE “SO SMART” HERE
BUY / STREAM “SO SMART” HERE
PRE-SAVE POWER HOUSE HERE
LISTEN TO MAGI MERLIN TALK ABOUT “POPSTAR” AND POWER HOUSE ON CBC Q WITH TOM POWER
“a confident, effortlessly cool club banger.” Exclaim! On “SpiceKick”
Photo Credit : Vladim Vilain // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
On “So Smart”, Magi Merlin writes herself a pacifying ode to self-kindness, 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. The single and video arrive as the third installment ahead of her debut album POWER HOUSE, which comes out July 10, 2026.
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."
WATCH / SHARE “SO SMART” HERE
BUY / STREAM “SO SMART” HERE
Co-writing and co-producing with long-time collaborator Funkywhat, Magi leads on her own art direction, shaping a visual world as self-defined and infectious as the music. Magi’s alternative shapeshifting R&B is about as high-definition as one can imagine, without ever sacrificing sensuousness and emotion while exploring life's deep existential truths. She tears through imagination and genre like outfits ripped off a clothing rack––a Galliano tulle skirt to a studio visit, lace wrist cuffs for a first date, or jungle-inspired kick drums giving way to futuristic synth lines.
This exploration of the self comes following the vivid single and video for “SpiceKick”. A loud, flashy, and seemingly arrogant track, decoding ‘plastic confidence,’ and showcasing how arrogance can often be a mask for an underlying fear of inadequacy. From this artifice to the radical, empathetic self-reflection of “So Smart”, her debut album POWER HOUSE won't be lulled into comfort; it holds itself in opposition to the systems that slowly hollow out our sense of self.
WATCH / SHARE “SPICEKICK” HERE
BUY / STREAM “SPICEKICK” HERE
Both follow lead single “POPSTAR” which was featured on CBC Q alongside an interview as well as being premiered on Huw Stephens' BBC Radio 6 Music show, picked up a B-list placement and had repeat plays on New Music Fix and a place on Spotify's Fresh Finds Favorites in March 2026. The single arrived as Magi was wrapping a European support run with Yaya Bey, the latest in a string of momentum that's been building steadily across both sides of the Atlantic. This spring, Magi also makes her acting debut in Chandler Levack's Mile End Kicks, which screened at TIFF and SXSW, and sees her acting alongside Barbie Ferreira, Devon Bostick and Juliette Gariépy.
WATCH / SHARE “POPSTAR” (VISUALIZER) HERE
BUY / STREAM “POPSTAR” HERE
LISTEN TO MAGI MERLIN TALK ABOUT “POPSTAR” AND POWER HOUSE ON CBC Q WITH TOM POWER
Magi [pronounced Mahd-j-eye] grew up in Montréal. Her 2022 EP Gone Girl earned praise from the likes of Bandcamp Daily, The FADER, The Line of Best Fit and Nylon, leading to tours with Noga Erez and a LATAM date with Omar Apollo. Her surprise EP, A Weird Little Dog, arrived as she opened a US tour for Nubya Garcia, followed by festival appearances at Osheaga, Festival d'été de Québec (opening for Ty Dolla $ign), Treefort, Reeperbahn and the Montreal International Jazz Festival.
With her debut album POWER HOUSE out July 10, Magi is about to reveal a big, sparkling new chamber of her craft. The title alone tells you she's not here to play it safe.
MAGI MERLIN LIVE
Fri, Jun 26, Mayenne, FR - Festival un Singe en Eté
Sat, Jun 27, Bailleul, FR - En Nord Beat Festival
Fri, Jul 17, Dour, BE - Dour Festival
Sat, Jul 18, Park um Belval, LUX - Flow Festival
Sat, 22 Aug, New York, NY - Location to be Announced
Sat, 12 Sep, Burlington, VT - Otis Mountain festival
Thu, Oct 15, Tourcoing, FR - Le Grand Mix
Fri, Oct 16, Nancy, FR - Nancy Jazz Pulsation Festival
Thu, Nov 19, Chicago, IL - Sleeping Village
PRE-SAVE POWER HOUSE HERE
LP Artwork Credit: Sophia Perras // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
POWER HOUSE TRACKLIST
01 Welcome Home
02 SpiceKick
03 EAT!ME!OUT!
04 So Smart
05 Thank You!!!
06 WHIP
07 Crawl
08 pixxxie
09 Workout
10 Salt
11 POPSTAR
12 Wtvr
