Canadian-French alt-pop provocateur Maryze is fast emerging as one of the genre’s most boundary-pushing voices, debuting in the UK with their highly anticipated single ‘False Icon’ (out now via Hot Tramp Distribution).
Produced by Skyler Cocco, the track fuses the drama of 80s synths—evoking Eurythmics with flashes of Gaga—with the campy grotesque of cult body-horror cinema, captured in striking polaroid artwork by Italian director Andrea Calvetti. Inspired by the 1986 cult film Society, the song is a glittering yet scathing takedown of Hollywood’s two-faced sirens, exposing the toxic allure of celebrity worship while confessing its magnetic pull. With stormy-sweet alt-pop that blends electronic beats and fiery bilingual lyrics,
Maryze has already toured Australia and New Zealand with Alex Cameron, gone viral with their single Langue, performed at SXSW, and shared stages with Boy Harsher, Princess Superstar, and Desire. Now, with False Icon, they mark a thrilling new chapter set to shake up the UK alt-pop scene. We decided to have a chat with Maryze:
What sparked the fire behind “False Icon”? Was there a moment that made you say, “I need to write this”?
The producer of the track, Skyler Cocco, and I were chatting about a particular dynamic we witness in Los Angeles where artists/celebrities use their “friends” for clout or to promote themselves – seeing people as pedestals to further their career, without actually valuing or caring for a community. We’re both disturbed by this behaviour and wanted to portray this type of character in a song, kind of like a cult leader horror movie monster.
That line — “Your friends, your fans, your captives” — hits hard. What’s the story behind it?
To me, that line is kind of the crux of the track. The “False Icon” pretends their fans are their friends, in order to keep them captive.
You fused 80s synth-pop with body-horror vibes. How did that twisted combo come together?
It felt like a pretty natural fusion! 80s horror is campy, flashy, sometimes grotesque, and often accompanied by wicked synthy soundscapes. Those visuals and sounds pair together seamlessly – to me, dark 80s electronic music feels inherently spooky.
Society (1986) inspired the track — what freaky details from that cult classic made it into your music?
Society didn’t directly inspire the track, but the movie poster 100% inspired the artwork.
The artwork is wild. What was the vision behind it?
It was a direct homage to the poster for Society, where a glamorous, high society woman is pulling off her face. It’s a gross melted mess, with a blank “faceless face” underneath. We tried to recreate the image as closely as possible, using a face cast painted to resemble the featured actress Sadie Scheufler’s face, another latex mask with the same makeup painted on, and crazy prosthetics which sealed off her mouth and eyes. It was a real challenge to get the shot! We only really had one take and Sadie absolutely killed it (even when she couldn’t breathe under her latex mask).
This track feels like a cinematic gut punch. How did you balance spectacle with raw emotion?Thanks so much! The theatrical nature of the vocals and lyrics actually make space in a way for real emotion. It’s like the heightened drama gave us permission to dive into some honest and difficult themes. We could be specific without revealing the False Icon’s true identity.
Does “False Icon” connect to your earlier work like “Versed,” or are you breaking into new territory?
All my songs connect in my mind, but sound-wise it may seem like a bit of a departure. There’s always an element of darkness, I like keeping some mystery, but there’s also a consistent driving energy in my new music that I’m excited about. It’s fun to perform and share with audiences. False Icon gives me the chance to really sing and show off my range, while Versed had more of a bratty, spoken vocal delivery.
You’re calling out Hollywood’s double-faced divas. What do you want fans to feel when they hear it?
I want them to relate to the song, even if it isn’t necessarily reflective of the same specific people. We’ve all been in those friendships where we’ve felt deceived or like we’re dealing with con artists.
How does your identity — queer, bilingual, genre-blending — shape the sound and message of this track?
It’s not a conscious choice when I’m writing music, but I think my queerness comes through in all I create. My gender is fluid, my genre is fluid… as is whichever language feels right to write in at that moment.
What’s next? More singles, a tour, or are we heading toward a full-blown Maryze era?
I just got back from my first France/UK tour, so I’ll likely slow shows down for winter to focus on finishing my upcoming album! I’m making some of my best music and already have a bunch of singles in the pipeline that I’m dying to release. I’m in love with the art I’m making right now.
Get ‘False Icon’ here: https://hypeddit.com/z92aqg
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
