Towards the start of last year, I came across the Canadian duo Majical Cloudz. Comprising of singer-songwriter Devon Welsh and electronic music producer Matthew Otto, I fell in love with their beautifully orchestrated electro/art-pop basically instantaneously. Majical Cloudz were on repeat for days, no – weeks.  Their hypnotic sound of deep, soundscape-like synth pop affixed with Welsh’s searing voice and emotional urgency, takes you on an almost spiritual journey. I couldn’t recommend them more to anyone! Seriously, I insist you go have a listen. Tip, cool and/or dark rooms, stormy nights, or even early on a winters morning, would be the perfect time to bask in Majical Cloudz’ music.

Things got even better with their newest releases, Are You Alone? later in 2015, and EP Wait & See earlier this year. However, news in 2015 of their comings to Australia by the way of the 2016’s St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival took me to a whole new level of excitement. Finally getting to experience their live performance was amazing, purely amazing. Although as stated by Welsh on the day of their Melbourne performance, their music and live set would best be experienced in a dark room somewhere, the sunny, 35 degree day at the Footscray Arts Centre would have to do. And they killed it. It was just too good. Too real. Too….majical.

Majical Cloudz @ St. Jerome’s Laneway Melbourne 2016
Photo by: Yours truly.

But sadly, all good things must come to an end. Yesterday on March 4th, the duo announced their goings of separate ways, deciding to take on other musical projects separately. Devon Welsh will be releasing music and playing shows under his own name, with new music to come at some point later on in the year. Matthew Otto now, will be working on a new project of the name, The Dahlia, while also producing a few other records and even composing the soundtrack to a film. I will truly always love the music these two men have created over their past years together and of course will miss the anticipation of when their next release will come. However, I cannot wait to hear what else these artists have to offer on their own accord. RIP Majical Cloudz.