Genre-Blending Spill Tab at Bar Le Ritz

No artist sounds quite like Spill Tab. The genre-blending songs merge alternative pop with jazz nuances. Claire Chica, the creative force behind these entrancing tracks, is a 28-year-old singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. Born in Thailand, raised in Paris, and now based in LA, she crafts English and French songs layered with energetic rhythms, desire, nostalgia, and angst.

On September 26th, Chica brought her colour-changing lamps to decorate the stage of Bar le Ritz for the Pop Montreal Festival. Inviting the audience into her world, she made the venue feel at home as she introduced her new album, Angie, released on May 16th, 2025. An album that I’ve been constantly listening to since its release. Drawing from a horrible breakup that inspired the album, she created a cathartic experience that the audience could feel through her beautiful voice and crazy instrumentals. Between songs, Chica and her bass player entertained the crowd with jokes, keeping spirits high while resolving technical issues and setting up equipment. Nearly every song from the new album was performed, including the thirty-second "Morning Dew Interlude," giving the audience a chance to absorb the album's musical complexity. As a spontaneous addition, Spill tab performed "Runner" by Alex G, inspired by a moment of boredom during soundcheck. The set ended with "Assis," with Chica stating it was great to be somewhere where her French songs could be understood.

Before Spill tab was Maddie Davis, the opening act, who set the tone with her alt-rock/pop music. She was joined by a guitarist and a backing track as she performed tracks from her new EP “Smile at the Good,” released July 18th and a couple of songs from her last EP “RAGE”. Following a similar structure to Spill Tab's set, she included one cover. Her rendition of “The One That Got Away” by Katy Perry was even sadder than the original, thanks to her melodic, reverbed voice and the echoing electric guitars. Although I hadn’t heard of her before, her songs “What if?”, “RAGE,” and “Goodbye for Now” stayed with me long after the concert.

The September 16th show of Spill Tab and Maddy Davis was perfect for anyone going through a breakup with its sad, vengeful, and nostalgic themes. I heavily suggest the new Spill Tab album, Angie, to all who want to widen their music taste; it’s guaranteed to impress you!