Maarquii
Maarquii "Full Outfit"
Today, Portland-based multidisciplinary artist Maarquii—AKA Marquise Dickerson—dropped a fresh one with "Day Ones," the lead single from their forthcoming sophomore album, which is currently untitled. Clocking at just under a minute and a half and produced by frequent collaborator Jvnitor, this song appears to be just a taste of what's to come from the artist. Before Dickerson goes on a much-needed extended vacation, we met over some chai and matcha teas to discuss their new single, and a bunch of other exciting things that're in the works... annnnnnd now I'm even more stoked about the singer/rapper/dancer's rise!

Check out their new single "Day Ones," and read an excerpt from our interview below. (Interview has been edited for clarity and secrecy).



Who produced [“Day Ones”]?

Jvnitor. It’s one that we’ve had in the bank for a long time. And I don’t actually, I would have to see when we actually made it to think about where I really was. But I definitely remember I was like thinking a lot about my family and where I’m from, and like coming up my uncle and my aunt, my mom’s siblings they were heavy into rap. And the only time I really got to listen to rap was if I was around them, and that’s when I was exposed to like Snoop Dogg and Dre, and all of those sort of like West Coast rappers. And so when I was writing the song I was really thinking about my uncle and how much West Coast they would listen to. Because we have family that’s like in California, in and out of California.

Can you explain the meaning behind the content in "Day Ones"?

It’s really just like Three of Cups [Tarot] energy, if I can. Like, really remembering the people who celebrate me, and the people who I celebrate with, and remembering the people who have always been there for me when I needed them... who’ve always held me up and taken care of me in a way. And that’s where "day one niggas" comes from, me just kind of thinking and reflecting on that. And that goes back to me thinking about my day one, like my personal day one. Where I come from, who I am, and just sort of like a quick reminder of that.

Have you filmed a video for it already?

Not technically. I have a cute little IG edit that I made for it that’s really cute. So this single is gonna launch me, or move me into launching my Patreon campaign because I am desperately trying to figure out how I can get more backing for the things that I wanna do. For “Full Outfit,” it was like such a wake up call in a way of like: We did this amazing piece of work with no budget, and while it turned out great, the avenues that we have to go through to be able to do that is
 it’s just a lot. And it’s a lot that I think is unnecessary because I know there is funding. There is so much abundance out there, and I just need to put myself in a position to receive it. And also, keeping it honest: It helps me to continue to make content and be like honing in and perfecting my craft. And so I just need that sort of fire underneath. Cause I wanna always be doing it better and better and better—and that requires a little coin.

What’s the theme for your new album?

So far it’s sounding very chill. I’m toying around with [a few names]. But it’s just, I want it to be something real soft and vibey and something that we can put on and just get your life to, feel sexy to, think to, you know, just something chill. Lots of singing and like lo-fi, yeah that’s where I’m trying to go with it. A different side.

In comparison to C.A.B.O., what do you think the biggest difference is?

I think with C.A.B.O., when I was conceptualizing the album and putting all the tracks in order, it definitely comes from this sort of like hard-edges perspective: “I’m a bad bitch, fuck you, leave me the fuck alone, la la la.” [LAUGHS] You know? Like that’s kind of what it gives in a way. And you know, that’s fine. That’s where I was at that point in time. I was in a very like ‘Fuck you, leave me alone, I’m sexy and hot.’ And that is a part of me, but I think it’s important to learn how to be soft, and to practice being softer, especially with yourself. And that’s something that I’m trying to step into a bit more. It’s like, showing that side of me, and stepping into and knowing when to be soft, and when to be a little bit more graceful in how you deal with people and how you manage maybe hurt feelings, or people trying you, or just the world. Just trying to be a part of contributing more softness to the world. And because I’ve been meditating on that a lot this summer, that’s sort of where the work has been going and where the art is taking me. That feels really good.

Since you are a multidisciplinary artist, you’re also thinking about how you can bring that softness to dance and stuff too. Have you started doing that type of stuff with the new music yet?

Yeah, I have started—it’s so wild how everything just comes—but I have this really cool song on the record that I did with my homie Antwon and it’s this like
 it’s real jazzy, and the whole kind of theme of the song is like, you know when you just had an all-nighter with your babe, ya’ll was up, it was romantic, ya’ll got it in, just like, til the break of dawn. And that thing that exists afterwards, in the morning when maybe it happened on Sunday night and ya’ll gotta go to work the next day. That sort of after-effect of like ‘Damn, don’t go to work. Let’s just call in and do it all over again all day long.’ And I really had been thinking about what it feels to like to be in love, and being caught up in that beauty of experiencing moments of hedonism with your lover and just being caught in that state. And I was just really thinking about it that day—I’m gonna start crying—but I was really thinking about it that day, and we recorded it and it was so beautiful. And I was so proud of it in a way that—sometimes when I create or like I go to write something, I always sort of second guess it in a way—not always, I won’t say always, but often. And that day just felt so right, and this summer has been really challenging but it’s been moments like that that were like ‘Oh yeah, you’re being real honest and that’s cool, I’m proud.’ You know? Like wow, that’s what it’s like when you’re just honest. So that’s been really cool.

Aww. Are you in love right now?

With myself.

That’s beautiful.

Yeah this summer has been a lot of lessons and really hard looks at myself. I was having a day the other day and just sort of feeling like things are starting to open up and feel a little bit more hopeful.