Maribou State

Maribou State are Chris Davids and Liam Ivory, the 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 from Glastonbury to the Sydney Opera House, as well as back-to-back sold-out UK, EU and North American tours.

Over three albums – including a new, forthcoming release – Maribou State have honed a delicate balance of intricacy, intimacy and electronic expansiveness. 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. Building on Portrait’s success, Maribou State relocated to the UK capital but looked further afield for inspiration: 2018’s Kingdom of Colour wove together a sonic collage of ideas and field recordings from their travels across India, Australia, Morocco, America and beyond. 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.