A Look Inside the Shell(e): A Conversation with Marie-Clo
Music can transcend time and space -- but there’s also something pretty special about music rooted in a time and space that’s familiar to you. When you know that the artist is physically located nearby, the context of their work changes. Maybe they have the same favourite bookstore as you, or take the same bus route, or know a friend of a friend of yours — who’s to say? The possibilities are endless. I think this awareness creates a special kind of relationship between a viewer/listener/consumer and locally made artwork. There’s a certain magic in that kind of familiarity, and I feel it in Marie-Clo’s music.
Marie-Clo is a multidisciplinary artist based in Ottawa. Her most recent album release, Shell(e), landed her three Capital Music Award nominations -- including the win for Album of the Year. Her indie pop tunes are colourful, current, and bilingual, allowing her music to resonate with English and French audiences alike. Described as a true “creative chameleon,” the singer/songwriter/actress/dancer infuses her multifaceted talents into every project, allowing her to conjure up a bright world that’s sure to resonate with listeners.
I spoke to Marie-Clo about the music scene in Ottawa, the inspiration behind her eye-popping visuals, and life as an artist during COVID-19.
Your website mentions how you were originally an artist in the world of musical theatre before transitioning to music full-time. What was that transition like? Do you ever miss it?
It definitely started out that way. The first 3 years of full-time music, I had to fully invest and give it a real shot, so things like musicals/dance shows/tv/theatre needed to be paused. Since then, because I actually DEEPLY missed it, I've fully reintegrated them in my practice. I'd say that I'm a full time multidisciplinary artist now, rather than a full-time musician.
Your songs have a blend of English and French lyrics. What has your experience been like as a bilingual performing artist?
I knew there would be backlash from the Franco-Ontarian community that I was abandoning that part of my identity. I also knew it could potentially limit me in the English music world — to be tokenized and seen only as the bilingual girl trying it out in English. However, I chose to move through the fears and it was really gratifying. I felt a warm welcome in the English community, and my French following understood (the majority, anyways). At the end of the day, I'm francophone first, but I strongly identify with English as well. This makes me fully bilingual, not less French. Our society loves labels, and I think it's always important to remember that human experience and identity can't be categorized that way.
Your website describes you as a “seasoned traveller.” Has your interest in travel influenced your music and, if so, in what ways?
Definitely. I'm very spontaneous (to a fault). I can't sit still sometimes because I get these deep pulls about very specific endeavors. After traveling for my art since the age of 4 with competitive dance/theatre, then as a professional artist as an adult, and as a hockey wife with my ex-husband....I've been to many places. I think that it influences my music in that I've seen many realities, have had many addresses, and have had to adapt constantly while also trying to make a living. This formed my identity in a big way. This means I was often alone in a random apartment across the globe having to adapt. (Trivial things such as learning a new language to make friends, finding out how to get wifi, retracing my mail, not seeing friends/family/dogs for months/years at a time, being alone on major holidays, etc.) I think it makes for a very exciting life, but it can be exhausting at times. I try to focus on being grounded now that I live in Ottawa full time, but the music I write when I'm home is just not as good. That's the truth, plain and simple.
What’s it like to be a musician based in a comparatively smaller Canadian city like Ottawa? Are there any unexpected advantages or disadvantages you've found with being a part of the music scene here?
That's a really good question. I do think about this often. The fact that Ottawa is so small means you get to meet the entire music community (or close to) in a hot minute. This is pretty cool. However, it can be cliquey if you're coming from the outside, as a lot of people here have grown up together or have existing projects and aren't really looking to expand or try out something new. It's not a city with as many new people flowing in and out like Toronto or Montreal. (Which is relative, due to size perhaps. But Ottawa is definitely a city that takes fewer risks, in some ways.) I've also noticed that it is quite segregated in terms of language. (I'm sure it is in many other ways, but I can only speak to my own experience as a bilingual artist.) English and French artists don't really tend to crossover or interact. There seems to be a divide there in the industry. But it’s a very friendly city in terms of the arts, and it is filled with opportunities because of its size to funding ratio. There are lots of cool initiatives as well, and I disagree with the idea that it’s a boring city. The arts organizations here take good care of their artists. But it is small; you can plateau here, so you have to either move or reinvent yourself if you stay, in my opinion. But what do I know — I move all the time.
Your music videos sometimes make use of iconic Ottawa spots. How do those moments come about?
There are so many cool spots everywhere in Ottawa! I had a blast making my music videos, and being the creative director for them has allowed me to discover this secret passion I have and develop language and a skill set around it. For example, I chose to shoot "At Ease" at the wonderful Bellwethers Vintage store. Being a customer for years, I asked the owners around early 2019 if they wanted to collaborate. It started out as styling and grew into this beautiful relationship culminating in the video shoot. They've ultimately left a huge mark on my art.
The aesthetics of your music videos are also really cool, with rich colours and really fun choreography. What inspires you in making these really vibrant visuals to go with your music?
Thank you so much! I usually have pretty clear visions of what I want to bring to life in my art. I'm inspired by basically everything, and I see it in my mind: textures, colors, feelings, movement, sounds, words, costumes, props, palettes, locations. The special part is bringing it to life in real-time with other collaborators that I trust and have a blast with. I'm blessed to be surrounded by fantastic, talented pals who all collectively contribute to this vision.
It’s been over a year now of COVID-19 pandemic conditions. How was it, adjusting to online performances? Was it new to you a year ago?
The online component was very new to me, and it was difficult both emotionally and because I am a 90-year-old when it comes to technology. COVID really stopped all momentum. I still decided to release my full-length album Shell(e) during the pandemic, and I do not regret it one bit. But it certainly got lonely and weird without live shows. Artists were hit pretty hard, and we won't recover from this for a while. That being said, I'm grateful that I was safely housed, fed, and had good company during COVID. There was a lot of pain and loss during the pandemic — yet so much cool stuff came from it. It gave us time to think, and for some, time to create.
Your latest release is the English album Shell(e). Could you tell us a bit about how it came about?
I started writing the album when I felt my marriage was coming to an end. The album sort of spilled out of me through my divorce, my move back to Ottawa from Montreal, and essentially my resetting who I was, identity-wise. I sat a lot at my piano between 2017-2019 and wrote 10 songs. I noticed that they came about in bunches, and with a certain chronology in the themes. So I decided to release this conceptual album the way it came to me; in 4 parts. It is rooted in recapturing our own power and accentuating the positive sides of womanhood. I really wanted to focus on pleasure, freedom, sexuality, mental illness, love, forgiveness, and magic.
If someone wanted to jump into your music for the first time today, with one specific song/album/era of yours, where would you suggest they start?
I'd probably tell them to check out Shell(e). It's the album that I feel represents me most. It also has 1 and a half French songs on it, which is pretty cool. My favorite songs from Shell(e) are “Trophy Wife,” “Shell,” “Play Nice,” “Many Moons,” and “Ah Oui.”
I see that the Rocky Horror Picture Show is going to be one of your upcoming shows. Tell me about that — slash feel free to plug anything else you have coming up for people to check out!
Yes! It was supposed to take place in October and November 2020. Unfortunately, it was canceled due to COVID. If cases get better, it could very well take place fall 2021. I have a lot of very exciting stuff coming. Two brand new *secret* projects that I will reveal in July and September respectively. As well as a few TV shows in 2021. We are also starting to put together a trio Shell(e) show, with the hopes of touring a bit in the year to come.
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My conversation with Marie-Clo was an important reminder that there are cool, creative people doing cool, creative things all the time, all over this city. Ottawa’s small size has no bearing on its creative output — and artistic visionaries like Marie-Clo are continuing to push the boundaries of what’s possible all the time.
You can check out Marie-Clo’s merch, explore her music videos, and stay up-to-date on future show dates by checking out her website here.