Mereba sure has a way of making a return, and her new track “Rider” earns passing marks.
There’s a sense of enhanced confidence that builds around this soothing tune and its outer shell of gentle tribal drums and firm bassline. Her murmured voice is timid, yet the lyrics, self-written, are unafraid of losing out on a budding interest who could ignite an enduring flame of love in her soul. It just took her stepping from outside her own backyard to show her mate why she’s “a real one.”
“Rider” is Mereba’s first solo song of 2021 and the first new song of her own since the release of The Jungle Is the Only Way Out. Her debut album was released in 2019. She collaborated with JID (“Sandstorm”) and 6LACK (“Heatwave”) on the introductory LP, making videos for each link up.
On Juneteenth of last year, Mereba released an acoustic version of “Heatwave.” It arrived months after she made her very first appearance on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk.
Mereba also joined Xavier Omär (“Like I Feel”) and Berhana (“Golden Pt. 2”) for their respective tracks last year.
Listen to Mereba’s new song “Rider” below.