Monde Ray is the musical solo project of French artist Manon Guiol, and here she unveils new single Silencieux Témoins.
Riding on a wave of heavy synths, Silencieux Témoins is a deep slice of electronic R&B, leveraging darkwave and EBM bass tones. Crisp drums punch, soaking the listener in wet reverb, all whilst Guiol’s French vocal creates a cinematic atmosphere that oscillates between a dark paranoia and an ethereal uncertainty. She gives way to the song’s hook, however — her voice silenced to make way for a dark, instrumental chorus.
There is an appropriate sense of aloofness at play on Silencieux Témoins, reflecting the fact the song is concerned with ‘the superficiality of certain relationships, particularly when entering a new environment where no one truly knows you’. This is a song that deliberately keeps you at arms length, mysterious, dark and unwilling to fully let you in, yet capable of captivating the listener all the same.
Having made music since childhood, Guiol learnt classical piano and music theory before shifting towards electronic composition and production. Initially working under the name Manone, focusing on darker electronic sounds, she joined dream pop outfit Tender Tones as composer, keyboardist, and vocalist. In 2023, Manon made a move south from Paris, and at the same time embraced 80s textures and EBM, completing her transition into Monde Ray.
Check out Silencieux Témoins below: