"Inside the Marble": An Evening With Margaux
Graphic by Sofia Giarrusso
by sophie parrish
Singer-songwriter Margaux (she/her) is an authentic beam of light whose artistry compels passionate honesty. With her poetic lyrics and tender expression of complex feelings, she is a charming performer who deserves her time in the spotlight.
When I first discovered Margaux was performing in Boston alongside Lily Seabird and Clifford the Band, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. I discovered her during the summer of 2021, hoping to see her live since then. Ironically, the both of us being from Seattle, moving across the country is what led our paths to finally cross.
In an interview before her anticipated show later that night, Margaux explained that, “this is my first time touring with my own music, and it's been interesting. I get nervous, I feel like when I play bass, I can more easily shake it off after if it's not the best. For my own stuff, it's like ‘oh darn.’”
As an experienced bassist, she has played for several years, touring with a plethora of artists, namely Closebye and Katy Kirby, with whom she finds gratifying community. This was her first solo tour, and she spoke of how the experience of playing her own material is much more vulnerable but ultimately cathartic.
Beyond just the experience of performing though, Margaux spoke about everything that has led up to this momentous solo tour and the creative process of her recently released debut album, Inside the Marble. She noted that, “I’m a slow writer and playing in other people's bands, I have to devote a lot of time to that. In terms of process, a lot of the songs came out of personal experiences. Often, I would only turn to song writing when I was dealing with something kind of emotional. I have been wanting to create more of a songwriting practice but it's more of an outlet than anything.”
Margaux’s discography is evidently unique in the five-year gap between her first official EP, 2019’s More Brilliant Is the Hand That Throws the Coin, and this year’s Inside the Marble . In between releases, Margaux graduated from The New School and established a steady career collaborating with artists like Katy Kirby and JW Francis. When comparing the distance in time between the two works, there are clear similarities and differences in Margaux’s distinct style. “At the time of that EP, I was really into studying jazz, and I definitely think there were some influences from a songwriting perspective,” she said “Even though, to me, it doesn’t sound ‘jazzy,’ I think just being immersed in it contributed to how I was thinking about songs. With some space from that, I feel like I have experimented with different types of sounds. I have worked with the same producer on both the EP and the album. Our sound changed together over time, so it was exciting to work with new textures,” she continued.
As the conversation regarding the album progressed, Margaux remarked on the meaning of the title Inside the Marble,and shared her personal connection to it. Margaux interprets “a marble as this thing with all of these interweaving swirls that, from the outside, you can’t necessarily track their directions.” For her, “it felt like a strong metaphor for the inner world of a person and myself. A lot of the songs on the album are about certain emotions that I was trying to figure out. It’s just that idea of the marble as a symbol of sanity and mental wellness.” She is an intuitive artist and uses music as a tool of understanding the complexity of human experience. Given her explanation of the connection between the title and the entire work, Margaux shared that tracks “Dissolve/Resolve” and “I Can’t Decide” are her favorites from the album. She is proud of the way the production turned out for each of them and especially how personally descriptive they are. Putting an unparalleled amount of time, effort, and care into everything she releases, Margaux is a thoughtfully expressive artist with intentions to tell her ever changing stories and ideas.
A few short hours later, I returned to Warehouse XI again, this time to see Margaux perform alongside artists Lily Seabird and Clifford the Band. Upon entrance to the venue, I was greeted by the sweet sounds of “Duvet” by Boa and “Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star echoing in the building. I immediately noticed the welcoming decoration of the space which included plants sprawled across the perimeters and twinkling lights decorating the ceiling. The set design was reminiscent of Clairo’s Sling tour in 2022 with a large, fuzzy rug and adorning lamps placed carefully around the stage. With groups of friends scattered around, small talk swirled across the room and charged it with a strong sense of community. The space illuminated comfort which set the stage for a night of laughter, enjoyment, and genuine contentment.
The night began with Boston-based Clifford the Band’s easy-going set. They entered with contained excitement that pushed to the surface of their voices when they spoke directly to the audience. With their comparison of the intimate size of the venue to a house show, the crowd burst into eased laughter. The energy between band members, particularly the drummer and bassist, was infectious and as I looked beyond the stage I noticed a collectively growing grin across the crowds' faces. The unique use of time signatures and various pedals was evocative of some curious amalgamation of jazz-post-punk fusion. With only a few songs on their setlist, Clifford proved themselves to be a unique act to be remembered.
The transition between Clifford and Margaux's set was prompt and heightened my excitement for what I had been anticipating throughout the past few years of dedicated listening. As she sat down–guitar in hand, microphone to mouth– Margaux transformed. Beginning with “Dissolve/Resolve,” a reflective and pensive song, the singer immediately established her stunning vocals and lyrics. I was honestly taken aback by the soothing level of Margaux’s voice which especially resembled her recordings. As I hummed along, taking in the scenery, I noticed the receptiveness of the crowd. Never losing eye contact and nodding beyond just the beat of the song but in genuine understanding, they were, like me, enthralled by the raw talent on display. As she quickly moved from “I Wouldn’t Want It Any Other Way” to “Sadie Something,” I was officially transported into the terrifying real world of Inside the Marble. With lyrics that grapple with the idea of “the great unknown,” Margaux’s performance was a cathartic experience to be a part of. As her set neared its inevitable end, I heard the frequent plucking of “Faced with Fire” begin to play and I was at once overcome with emotion. The track being one of my favorites of all time, it was a special experience to hear it performed live after years of playing it non-stop from my bedroom. The combination of guitar’s twang and droning horns reverberated throughout the air of the space, leaving me with a new perspective of the song. While the time the audience at Warehouse XI spent with Margaux felt entirely too short, it was forty-five minutes that I am sure I will never lose appreciation for.
Ending off the charming night, Lily Seabird entered the space with a swarm of energy that I swore I could see radiating off of her. She instantaneously captivated and claimed the space with her southern accent and thundering harmonica. Her set explored genres beautifully as she pushed the boundaries of folk music in her incorporation of electric guitar as heard in tracks like “Grace” and “Take It.” Her voice was uniquely authentic and often resembled that of a spoken-word poetry performance. Around the room was a buzzing murmur of attention with compliments to Lily’s sound sticking out from the crowd. Lily Seabird brought a curious zest of authenticity to Warehouse XI’s stage that was so herself it was simply incomparable.
As I exited the venue, my best friends by my side, I was filled with a feeling of contentment that kept me warm all the way home. The lineup of Clifford the Band, Margaux, and Lily Seabird made for an enchanting night of raw artistry that left me inspired to hear more.