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Single Reviews: Megan McDuffee


Megan McDuffee first came to my attention during a mindless Instagram scroll with 'What if Placebo was dark synthwave?' WELL... You couldn't craft a more perfect sentence to get my attention to be honest!

Later she also covered 'Girls Not Grey' by AFI and by this point - I was very much a fan of Megan's work. (By the way check out Blaqk Audio which is AFI lead singer Davey Havok's GREAT darkwave/Synth-pop band) Little did I know that Megan McDuffee is a well known, and award winning artist creating her own music, as well as original music for games, TV, and films! I can't possibly go in to the full depth of her work in a short article so I have hand picked 5 of her more recent singles and covers that have really caught my ear, and that I think the usual Elektro Vox reader will truly enjoy as well. (Covers not on Bandcamp) Just a mini review of each from me this time as I want the tracks to mainly speak for themselves! Needless to say Megan McDuffee is a powerhouse artist that has some of the most hauntingly beautiful tracks you've yet to discover.. Make sure that you do. Also please check out 'Light's Not Far Away' by MAGNAVOLT featuring Megan because (One word review here)... CHILLS!!

Award-winning video game composer, music producer, and recording artist. Megan calls the misty woods north of Seattle home, and her music is a sonic potion of trippy, dark, melodic, catchy, grimy, and sinister vibes.


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Reviews


Leviathan

Her blade is thirsty for demon blood, as she makes her way through the grimy, pumping underground club. Masks hide each dancer's face, as she hypnotically dances among them, hunting her prey, and sending them back to Hell.


Stomping out a smooth but steady mid-tempo beat, 'Leviathan' starts off in a very cool way - soon complimenting the smooth, smooth lyrics from Megan. Just as the description above suggests, this track is deceptive. Another perfect example of a song that seems relaxed in tone but lyrically contains a lot of malice in it's own way. An ideal track for multiple occasions - a late night closing set, a warm up to a fight, the heat of the bedroom, or a reminder of one's own inner strength, this is a track full of poignance and 'stomp'.


Girls Not Grey

How many times I must have listened to this track as a teenager.. to hear it so beautifully sung in such a twist of genre is.. deeply satisfying and adds a lot of maturity to the original, making it a supremely enjoyable, and nostalgic re-discovery listen after life has filled you with experience.

The track feels like a dark lullaby, a most melancholy chillout, and a peaceful dose of serenity in all equal measures. The final minute of this version kicks in a final dose of extra energy to leave you with a deep smile on your face and deep in your chest as it drifts out..


Every You Every Me

Another track that I couldn't possibly count the teenage hours of repeated listening (and adult listening for that matter) Placebo is an artist I don't like people covering because I feel like you can't blemish something so perfect; and yet Megan's version left me drifting in a sort of astral head space.. It is so serene, so elegant, and dare I say almost better than the original with its much slower tempo and heavy felt words. You can genuinely hear the passion and love that Megan herself has for this song and Placebo, and that shines through brighter than any star. In essence this cover honours the original in everyway and breathes a whole new realm of electronic and modern life into it, evolving it in pure style.


Freak Like Me

Much more of a EBM meets future-pop track here with 'Freak Like Me' this grabs you, dominates you, humiliates you.. This is a track for the dirty, the dungeon lovers, the hedonists, and the dance floor grinders. If you're a fan of HARPY and Mimi Barks then you'll love this track. Techno base, hissed vocals, raunchy synths.. Great stuff.


Forgive Me

This is a single from the 2024 album 'Crimson Legacy'

This track follows more of the 'horror' sort of darkwave path. Creeping, elegant, dark, and stings like a shot of bourbon. I imagine (from the cover art) a stripper dancing her heart out before killing someone who really, really deserves it and doesn't see it coming. I think that's also because it has a strong SKYND feel to the vocals and music, making it a damn great track regardless of how and where you listen to it.



Just a short one from me today, please do go check out the huge catalogue of musical offerings from Megan McDuffee, you wont be disappointed!



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