“Aye, aye, it’s a war like every day / Keep my gold up in my safe / They won’t bring me to my knees” – this is a small glimpse into Mereba’s newly released EP titled, “AZEB.”
Born on September 19, 1990, Marian Mereba’s biggest influence is her Ethiopian heritage. Immersing herself in Black culture, Mereba went to Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia stating, “It forced me to spread my wings as a writer and creator because I was around so much diverse talent.” Influenced by creators like Michael Jackson and Nirvana, Mereba released her first EP in 2013 called “Room For Living,” opening the gateway to her career as an artist. the second chapter to her story, “AZEB,” is a soulful EP, introducing Mereba’s lyricism skills along with ties to who she wants to be as an artist.
Starting with the first track, “Aye” is an entrancing yet psychotropic song, completely engrossed in lifting up your spirit. Mereba’s euphoric voice and melody flow through this song as she sings, “Sharpen sword in here / Catch the glow in here / I’m a warrior, warrior, warrior / I got warrior, warrior, warrior blood.” “Rider,” the second track in the album, similarly strikes the listeners ears into a reverie of serenity. “Rider” focuses on the rendering issues people of color face, while also reminding themselves that they belong. Mereba sings, “The world feels like a war / Tell me what living’s for / Baby it’s gotta be love / I’ma give mine to you,” captivating the essences of dilemmas faced with the allurement of wanting to be loved and still unsure of what’s to come.
Unlike “Rider,” “Beretta,” the third track in the album, is a glistening romance unhinged from the harsh realities of life. Mereba lets go and is blooming with the essence of love, topped with a background of guitar and lightly paired vocals. She sings, “Never felt a love like this one / I’ll be staying put on this one / ‘Cause you see the parts of me / No other heart can see, so / I would win a war for this one.” Although quite somber compared to “Beretta,” “My Moon,” shares a similar theme of drifting into a fairytale as Mereba sings, “I think you’re the one / And the two / I could be your start / You’re my moon.”
Falling back to her roots, “Another Kin,” and “News Come” focus on the theme of injustice. Filled with raw emotion and targeting anti-Black violence, in “Another Kin,” Mereba sings, “Another kin killed today / Another stone thrown today / Why?” Mereba’s personal ties paired with the vulnerability of these tracks and the ambiance of soft guitar, makes these two tracks a definite gut-wrenching storytelling piece.
Mereba’s new EP “AZEB,” is an artistic masterpiece filled with illuminating and eccentric melodies that are topped off with her distinct voice. Diving into the world of R&B, Mereba has introduced herself as a dynamic and hopeless romantic waiting to breach. Give “AZEB” a listen if you are waiting to be lured into Mereba’s world of letting go, “exploring life, and love wistfulness.”
