Del Marquis

Del Marquis

A formally trained furniture designer, Marquis had no intention of becoming a musician. “I practiced a trade and loved to build things, that is one of the main reasons I started playing guitar, it is such a beautiful object.

Things didn’t go as planned and Del joined the fledgling nightclub act, Scissor Sisters. “In NYC, September 11th left so many people in a state of confusion; what you thought was your future path, was very much uncertain. I think those events allowed me to take a risk, and see what might happen with music.”

As lead guitarist in Scissor Sisters, Marquis has seen two world tours culminating in three sold out shows at London’s O2 arena. Scissor Sisters have sold in excess of 4 million albums worldwide.

Marquis felt it was necessary to make music of his own after so much time touring and recording as a band. “I had an idea to do a pop album, but paired with darker themes than what felt comfortable on a SS album. I wanted the music to be melodic and the production to be big, in that I referenced 80’s production, and the records that most successfully incorporated the dawn of digital gear with analogue techniques.”

Marquis settled on the concept of a multi-media project that would roll out in smaller doses all leading toward a large, complete vision. Working this way allows the project to evolve and take spontaneous turns en route to the finish.

The releases aren’t all retro synths and British homage; Embryoroom multimedia group concepted another side to the project.

Together, Embryoroom and Marquis worked on the idea of the ‘Shadow,’ an ulterior personality of the work. “We wanted to show a darker side to pop music, how the same song can be reinterpreted to represent a different style and emotion.” These versions are called ‘Shadow tracks” and are featured as separate tracks in each installment.

The final element of the project is an episodic Science Fiction video, entitled ‘Hazmazk,’ this visual narrative (often starring Marquis as Viz, a character subjected to examination and abduction) is filled with striking motifs and dark content.

Says Marquis, “Its important to have strong visuals as an identity beyond the sound, and although we didn’t necessarily want to create music videos as the sole representation for the project People don’t absorb things in two or three dimensions anymore, its 5.1 sound verses a stereo mix. I feel the project is unlike anything that is currently available commercially, especially given that it is DIY to the core.

Following the first two well-received installments – Hothouse, released in December and March’s Character Assassination, Del is gearing up for the May 19th release of Litter To Society. The 9-track work continues his experimentation in blending emotional themes and a forward-thinking vision with a classic synth-soul-pop palette that recalls pioneers of the sound such as The Human League and Tears for Fears merging with more experimental instrumentals.

“Litter To Society is the most intense thematic release of the series,” says Del. “It would be impossible to divorce one element from the other, i.e. the visuals, the songs, the interludes; each element works together to tell a story.”

“It is an account of depravity in modern life, told through songs about urban and social decay. Within each moment, there is hope, the ‘child inside’ and the possibility of redemption.”

Litter to Society EP |

Character Assasination EP | | Download From Amazon

Hothouse EP | | Download From Amazon

Out today 9/22 - Del Marquis (Scissor Sisters) releases his latest maxi-single RUNAROUND! The finale of Del's year-long multi-release cycle brings the hooks and the beats, with three new pop gems as well as remixes from Louis LaRoche, Baron Von... Luxxury and more!

Catch up with Del and get the rundown on Runaround, and the whole project, in this Q&A with Black Book: Click Here

Del Marquis is best known as the guitarist of Scissor Sisters, but he is now launching a solo career and Spinner is taking note. Marquis discusses his new electro/pop/remix madness, and how artist need to be ever-evolving as the music industry is in a constant state of change.

Marquis has been releasing his music as a series of EPs, including the third installment, "Litter to Society," due out this month.

Read the full article here.