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Today, French avant-pop artist molto morbidi (Swan Wisnia) has shared her new single, 'Casual Shapeshifting'. In November, she announced her new EP Chocolate Ashtray, is set to be released on April 11th, 2025, via No Salad Records. To mark the announcement, she shared the EP's title track, ‘Chocolate Ashtray,’ which received support from BBC Radio 6 Music's Deb Grant, Amy Lamé and Gideon Coe.
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On 'Casual Shapeshifting,' molto morbidi leans into a cartoonish, spacey sound—a blend of synth-pop and bossa nova, punctuated by a modified Flexatone beat that gives the song its quirky, kawaii flavor. Behind its lighthearted feel, the song grapples with the paradoxes of being a people pleaser—a tension Swan knows all too well, navigating the line between self-sacrifice and a deeper need for validation.
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The EP follows the release of her 2024 debut album String Cheese Theory, which featured UK alt-pop artist Ed Dowie and French improv legend Quentin Rollet, Chocolate Ashtray sees molto morbidi continue to carve out her own unique space in the world of art pop.
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For fans of idiosyncratic artists like Cate Le Bon, Kate NV, and Stereolab, the EP reflects molto morbidi’s distinctive, raw, and honest approach to music. The record has evolved from her personal experiences, including a pivotal moment in 2017 when music became a vital outlet. 'It was the only thing that kept me going,' says molto morbidi, reflecting on a time when she struggled with depression and found solace in creating music. This period saw her dive into electronic production, discovering the freedom and empowerment of crafting as molto morbidi, using Ableton Live as her gateway.
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Drawing on influences from synthwave, post-punk, and minimalism, molto morbidi’s sound is firmly avant pop, with a playful yet poignant touch. “Although it’s essentially pop music, I always try to integrate something a little offbeat, something weird,” she explains.
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Her latest EP takes a vulnerable approach, written in the wake of her debut, during a time when she felt frustrated and unsure about finding the right audience. She admits that she felt like a mother toward her songs, with the weight of doing them justice and struggling to reach the listeners they deserve. These emotions became the driving force behind the EP, serving as a form of self-soothing and a reminder to release the pressure, enjoy the creative process, and embrace the idea that, in the grand scheme of things, nothing really matters.
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Though also a philosophy graduate and teacher, molto morbidi chooses to keep her lyrics tangible and evocative, rather than abstract or conceptual. She admits that wearing both hats—philosophy and music—often challenges people’s perception of her legitimacy in either realm, and this struggle with identity comes through in her lyrics. Balancing these identities has informed much of her artistic perspective, and continues to drive her search for authentic self-expression.
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Chocolate Ashtray invites listeners to explore that tension—the space between trying to fit in and letting go entirely. In her distinct way, molto morbidi’s music conveys a sense of freedom and joy, yet retains the weight of personal introspection that makes her sound so compelling.
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Single
