Maribou State

Maribou State are Chris Davids and Liam Ivory, a UK duo giving electronic music a much-needed shot of soul. Since 2011, they’ve established themselves as major players on the global dance music circuit, melding a genre-fluid range of influences into a distinctly organic sound, redefining downtempo electronica for a new generation. They’ve become a hugely acclaimed live act who’ve performed roadblock shows for Glastonbury, as well as back-to-back sold-out UK, EU and North American tours.

Their vast sonic universe pulls on UK club music, vintage soul and evocative samples to create something completely unique. Their 2015 debut, Portraits, was written and recorded in the shed at the bottom of Liam’s parents’ garden in leafy Hertfordshire, just outside of London, where the duo both grew up. Lead single ‘Feel Good’, a collaboration with Texan trio Khruangbin, was a runaway success, while the album itself was released to widespread acclaim. It led dance music bible Mixmag to crown Maribou State one of their artists of the year.

Their band has come to its fullest realisation on their new and third album, Hallucinating Love. It’s a beacon of hopefulness after a turbulent past few years both personally and professionally, where Chris has been coming to terms with a major brain condition, bringing the duo closer together than ever before. The hotly-anticipated release brings together a host of impressive talents, including vocalists Holly Walker and Andreya Triana, and incredibly talented producer Jack Sibley, for a celebration of community, togetherness and triumphing against the odds.

It’s a complex tapestry of sound, but one that always brings heart and soul to the forefront.