Montreal-based artist Magi Merlin has officially returned with her latest full-length album, POWER HOUSE, which arrived this past Friday. Following the release of her calming single “So Smart” earlier this year, the project offers a deeper look into her unique sonic landscape. While the album may have flown under the radar amidst a flurry of high-profile releases, it is a record that demands attention, particularly for those seeking funky, chrome-plated jams to soundtrack a lazy Sunday.
Across 12 tracks, Magi Merlin—who serves as a singer, songwriter, and producer—weaves together soulful vocals, steampunk R&B, and amorphous trip-hop. Working alongside collaborator and co-writer Funkywhat, she crafts a soundscape where her silver-toned voice floats over bubbling, volcanic production. The result is a project that feels both fluid and explosive, expertly pairing raw desire with futuristic textures.
The album is marked by standout moments like the slinky track “Crawl,” where Merlin sings, “Sin keeps crawling on my focus.” This intensity carries over into “Pixxxie,” a song that pushes themes of lust into intoxicating and conflicted territory. Elsewhere, “Salt” serves as a highlight, functioning as a glitched-out vocal collage that feels sublimely fragmented, almost like a new life form learning to walk. Throughout POWER HOUSE, Merlin strikes a compelling balance between the unexpected, the immediately catchy, and the emotional complexities trapped beneath the surface.
In a recent Instagram post, Merlin shared her vision for the record:
POWER HOUSE is a record I hope you listen to and come out the other end feeling like you are the strongest person because you are, we all are. No matter how stupid and frustrating we can all be I hold the belief that contradiction does not beget moral failing. it is simply a quality of being a human. And if we can exist here together knowing we can be the worst people on earth doing the shittiest things we can also be the best people on earth, creating a safe place to exist for ALL of us. I want you to listen to the music and feel every ounce of energy that you have (which is unlimited btw) and remeber you don’t have to take shit just because.. you can do literally wtvr**** the fuck YOU WANT BITCH. SO DO IT.
Listen to the album below.
