Maguie: "What really matters to me is originality: offering something that doesn’t necessarily sound like what you hear elsewhere"
Updated: 1 day ago
Debut EP 'C'est Nous Les Autres' out on 16 October
Maguie is an emerging artist bringing a fresh voice to the Belgian music scene. Born in Dinant and raised in Brussels, she draws inspiration from a wide range of artists, from Stromae and Orelsan to ABBA and Queen, while developing her own musical identity through powerful lyrics and personal storytelling.
We first discovered her on stage at Les Solidarités festival this summer, where she delivered her very first live performance. Now, as she releases her debut EP, 'C'est Nous Les Autres', this week, we caught up with Maguie to talk about her musical journey, the influence of Brussels, her first experiences on stage and the message of love, courage and solidarity behind her new project.
For those discovering you today, who is Maguie, and how would you describe your musical universe?
Maguie is a fairly accessible musical universe, blending lyric-driven songwriting, rap influences and French chanson, with touches of electropop. We explore lots of different sounds to create something quite distinctive, an identity that is our own. What really matters to me is originality: offering something that doesn’t necessarily sound like what you hear elsewhere. I also attach enormous importance to lyrics. I like them to be powerful, to have an impact, to get straight to the point. Ultimately, that’s Maguie: accessible music, but with character, striking words and a musical world that aims to stand out.
When did you realise music was going to play such an important role in your life?
I think I’ve always known. Music was really the art form that moved me from a very young age. Listening to music transported me into comforting, exciting worlds, and I’ve always preferred it to other art forms. And one day trying my hand at instruments — guitar, piano, singing — just felt obvious. Even as a child, it came very naturally to me to pick up all these instruments and express myself that way, because it really was the right means of expression and escape for me, and above all, pure enjoyment.
Which artists or musical influences have shaped your journey the most and inspire what you create today — Belgian or otherwise?
Definitely the hard-hitting lyrics of certain artists, particularly from rap, like Orelsan, Josman and Disiz, but also the influences I’ve had since I was little, like English-language pop — ABBA, Queen and so on — that really made me fall in love with music. Later, when I started doing covers, I tried a bit of everything, but especially American pop and French chanson. So the range is really, really broad. To sum it up, I’d say I draw inspiration from Stromae’s power and Orelsan’s songwriting, although it’s much more complex than that.
You were born in Dinant but grew up in Brussels. What place does the city hold in your artistic identity? Has the Brussels music scene influenced your journey or your inspirations?
Yes, I’ve always lived in Brussels, and it really is such a rich city. I listened to loads of Belgian rap as a teenager — Hamza, Damso, Peet and many others — who really inspired me with the spontaneity you find here. I think we have so many incredibly well-rounded artists. I don’t know what’s going on in our country that makes people so talented in such a small area, but I love it.
We had the pleasure of discovering you on stage at Les Solidarités festival this summer! What was that experience like?
It was an incredible experience, an amazing first show. The nerves were good, and the audience was incredibly receptive. I’m lucky to have lots of people who support me and who were there that day. Because it’s not easy to play your first show at the same time as a headliner when you’re clearly not well known, but it was a real moment of connection. I’m so happy with the energy that came out of it. I can see what works and what needs improving. And that’s great, because you have to start somewhere. For a debut, it was an exceptional stage and a golden opportunity.
What do you feel just before going on stage — nerves, excitement, or a mix of both?
Concentration. I think I lose my sense of humour because I enter a phase where I keep everything to myself and stop seeing the funny side of things. I’m really, really focused. Then, just before I go on stage, I let go. I take in the positive energy and try to give people what I’d want to see from someone on stage.
And once you’re on stage, facing the audience, can you let yourself be completely carried away by the music? What do you enjoy most about performing live?
Yes, I let myself be completely swept away, transported. I trust the arrangements and all the work my musician and I have done, and then everything flows very naturally. What I love most about playing live is definitely getting feedback from the audience and feeling the energy, sensing which moments work and which songs are their favourites. That really is what makes live performance so precious.
Brussels has a particularly rich and diverse music scene. Are there any Brussels venues or festivals where you dream of performing?
Yessss! I dream of playing at AB, Les Nuits Botanique, Couleur Café, the Fifty Lab sessions, etc. Basically, all the places where I’ve loved seeing other artists perform.
This Friday, 16 October, you’re releasing your very first EP! How do you feel just days before sharing this project with the public?
I’m excited, but I’m realising that all the work leading up to this is done, and now there’s really the communication work left to do. That’s how I’ll make sure people can discover my musical universe. And I really can’t wait for people to discover what Maguie is musically, because that’s what matters most.
Why did you choose the title 'C’est nous les autres?' (It's us, the others). What story or message do you want to convey through this project?
The title refers to a track on the EP, but its meaning brings all the songs together. I think that in a world where it’s difficult to feel like you belong, where life isn’t necessarily easy given the political, economic and environmental climate around us, what we ultimately have left — and what has always saved people — is love and the courage we give each other. And sometimes what we expect from the collective has to come from ourselves. That’s what I’m trying to say. I’m trying to bring people together around the idea that the challenges we go through can be difficult, but, as in “Solace”, we can always see daylight again at some point. Giving each other courage is also a collective act, and we can give others what we ourselves hope to receive. That’s really important. It’s a kind of infinite loop between other people and ourselves.
"I think that in a world where it’s difficult to feel like you belong, where life isn’t necessarily easy given the political, economic and environmental climate around us, what we ultimately have left — and what has always saved people — is love and the courage we give each other."
Is there a song that’s particularly close to your heart, or one that was harder to write than the others?
I love them all <3
Your single 'Le sourire' touches on our inner child. If ten-year-old Maguie could see you today, on stage and about to release your first EP, what would she think of you?
She’d be going wild, she’d want more, and above all she’d be having the time of her life — which is something I need to keep doing, even if this career can sometimes be discouraging.
What would you like people discovering your EP to feel when they listen to it?
I’d really like people to come away from listening to it feeling connected to the lyrics, thinking they’ve discovered something a little different. I’d like them to see that self-deprecating humour is part of my musical universe, but also that there’s a lot of sensitivity and care in it, and that everyone can find something to relate to, whoever they are, wherever they come from or whatever they do. I want my music to bring people together and feel universal, because it deals with things that can really speak to everyone. So I’d love people to feel they’ve found a kind of comfort in it, because to me it’s something of a healing EP.
If you could share the stage with any artist, Belgian or international, who would you choose?
Ohhhh, that’s a killer question: Billie Eilish, Véronique Sanson, Lubiana, Peet, Ben PLG, Stromae, -M-, Rihanna, Salvatore Adamo, and so many more!!! Haha.
How do you see your musical project evolving over the coming months? Are there any new artistic challenges you’d like to take on?
I’d like to keep surrounding myself with such great people, develop my artistic direction, play shows and keep evolving the live performance. There are really so many things ahead of me, but it’s exciting and I’m ready. I just hope I’ll be carried along by the energy people give me — and I mean the audience, of course!!
Maguie will present her new EP live this Friday 16 at Café Flora in Brussels with free entrance, do not miss it! Follow her on Instagram for her latest updates.
Listen to all the new releases in our playlist:
Are you an artist? Do you want to be featured in Belgium Music Agenda? Submit your request via Groover. Click below.
Comments