The PepTides, the brainchild of Ottawa painter Claude Marquis and partner-in-crime DeeDee Butters, is a constantly evolving musical playscape. Marquis’s prolific songwriting runs the gamut from uproarious electro-synth pop anthems to tender acoustic ballads—giving a chipper nod to every genre in between. Incisive lyrics contrast with layered harmonies, catchy backbeats and whimsical sound effects in an exploration of the existential questions “What happened?”, “What’s wrong?” and “What next?”. Past albums include I’m A Spy (2007), Stereo Stereo (2008), North Hero (2010) and the award-winning For Those Who Hate Human Interaction (2010), voted 'Best Album of the Year' by the Ottawa Citizen. Fans eagerly await the forthcoming release of Love Question Mark in 2012.
The PepTides have taken the national capital by storm at their live performances, which include opening night of the Ottawa International Jazz Festival and PepTides 360, an intimate theatre-in-the-round experience which was voted 'Best Live Show 2011' (Ottawa XPress). A ticket to a PepTides show is an invitation to partake in a lavish post-apocalyptic fête. The brazen 10-member troop brings audiences an energetic spectacle featuring vibrant vocals, kitschy costumes, provocative videos and spontaneous dancing—all set in a 1950s living room strewn with retro furniture and radios, minks and (sometimes) trees. At the core of the music is a dose of 21st-century social commentary. Song titles read like prescriptions: For Those Who Hate The Earth, For Those Who Hate The Voice In Their Head, For Those Who Hate Carnage. Yet The PepTides serve their pointed offering wrapped in an irresistible package of silk, soul, fedoras and funk.
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