Montreal punk duo DVTR just released “Couleur peau (Your Next Token Asian Friend),” marking another deliberate provocation from the pair who swept last year’s GAMIQ awards.
The track addresses childhood experiences with institutional colour-coding in Canadian schools, where singer Demi Lune recalls the confusion of being asked to use “skin colour” crayons that bore no resemblance to her South Asian complexion. The duo won three GAMIQ awards in 2024, including Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Album/EP Punk of the Year for “Bonjour,” and Animated Music Video of the Year.
In typical DVTR fashion, the song transforms personal experience into broader cultural commentary. Where many artists might approach such territory with careful solemnity, Demi Lune and Jean Divorce deploy their characteristic blend of punk fury and sardonic wit. The track’s subtitle takes direct aim at performative diversity efforts, positioning the singer as someone willing to fill quota requirements while simultaneously calling out the systems that create such needs.
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The band emerged rapidly in 2023, accumulating critical praise and sold-out shows with their 12-minute debut EP “BONJOUR”. Their sound sits somewhere between the B-52s’ art-punk sensibilities and the raw urgency of Jay Reatard’s DIY approach. What sets them apart is their unpredictable live presence, which has already taken them across three continents.
DVTR consists of Laurence Giroux-Do (Demi Lune) from Le Couleur and guitarist Jean-Cimon Tellier (Jean Divorce), both established figures in Quebec’s indie scene who’ve found freedom in this deliberately unpolished side project. Their approach remains intentionally raw, avoiding the protracted development processes that can drain spontaneity from punk music.
The release coincides with an extensive touring schedule that includes dates across France and Eastern Canada through the summer and fall. The band performed recently at Montreal’s Foufounes Électriques, maintaining their reputation for chaos-driven performances.
DVTR continues operating on simple principles: play loud, repeat the message until it penetrates, and maintain the irreverent spirit that launched them from late-night jam sessions to award podiums in under two years. “Couleur peau” suggests they’re not softening their approach with success.
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