Today, the dynamic Montreal-based electronic producer Nico Dupuis aka Anomalie, enlists Grammy-nominated saxophone player, singer, rapper, and DJ Masego to provide smooth vocals on his latest offering, the wistful new single “Memory Leaves.” Cut from the same cloth, Anomalie and Masego create a 21st-century blend of jazzy electro-R&B backed by Dilla-inspired beats. Both artists have received acclaim over the years, leading to sold-out tours and life on the go. In “Memory Leaves,” Masego’s sullen lyrics touch on the bittersweet nature of this lifestyle and how their career sacrifices affect them on a personal level.
Listen to “Memory Leaves” watch video
After meeting in 2017, Anomalie and Masego reconnected when they both attending a retreat hosted by DJ Jazzy Jeff. The two instantly hit it off leading to a quick friendship and effortless musical collaboration. Nico elaborates on his friendship with Masego and what it was like working together:
I met [Masego] at NAMM in 2017, and reconnected at the retreat prior to the session but he’s the one who put Jazzy Jeff onto me… As much as I enjoy playing music live with others, when it comes to writing and creating, I’ve always preferred doing it alone. Collaborations are still fun for me as they bring me out of my comfort zone, but once I’ve done one I’m usually excited to go back to my solo workflow. Working on Memory Leaves with Masego was invigorating. I found an amazing creative partner, and I’m still very much inspired by that session and the way the track came together. I was blown away! I hope this one resonates with you as much as it did with me when I first heard Masego’s chorus come to life!”
“Memory Leaves” follows Anomalie’s standout Herbie Hancock cover, “Come Running To Me,” as well as singles “Bond” and “Dribble,” which will all appear on his highly anticipated full-length release. Galerie is due out April 29th via Nettwerk and will be followed by the Galerie World Tour which kicks off in in Dallas, TX at the Deep Ellum Art Company on May 18th.
Nicolas Dupuis is never far from home. As Anomalie, the shape-shifting production project he unveiled in 2016, Dupuis has channeled his musical upbringing (his mother, a piano teacher; his father, a host on Radio-Canada), formal schooling, and stage-seasoned chops into two companion EPs — Metropole and Metropole II — the Chromeo collaboration Bend the Rules, and now his long-form debut, Galerie.
The Metropole series, released in 2017 and 2018, was the story of a city — Dupuis’ native Montreal, where he still resides — visiting familiar landmarks, cosmopolitan rhythms, and well-worn streets. By early 2020, Dupuis’ love letters to home had taken him around the world and back, powering two sold-out tours spanning North America (Red Rocks Music Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Electric Forest), Europe, and Asia — plus, a social audience now into the millions, and earned endorsements from contemporaries like Charlie Puth, Snarky Puppy, and others. On-stage, Dupuis honed an astute balance of electronic production, progressive jazz harmonics, and hip-hop rhythms with a four-piece group, reinventing genres known for their slippery, expansive definitions.
But by mid-2020, the world had changed. Those sold-out shows? Replaced by next-door neighbors. Dupuis and his girlfriend decided to settle into their own space in Montreal, buying their first home, with a designated personal studio where Dupuis could re-discover his momentum. As lockdowns began to recede from view, Dupuis returned to the studio ready to channel his prismatic influences into Galerie.
The result is a delirious genre fusion inspired by D’Angelo, J. Dilla, Brian Wilson’s Pet Sounds, Herbie Hancock’s Sunlight, and Robert Glasper’s Black Radio. You might call it Cubist, with each song revealing a new side, depth, or angle in Dupuis’ sound. Together, these tracks aren’t just an exhibition; they’re a resounding thesis, a road map tracing how consonant styles overlap and interact. By reinvigorating jazz harmony, Dupuis is slyly driving broader audiences to discover or renew their love for the foundational components in today’s voices.
