Marian Azeb Mereba (born September 19, 1990), known mononymously as Mereba, is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer.[3]
Mereba | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Marian Azeb Mereba[1] |
| Born | September 19, 1990 Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | Interscope[2] |
| Website | merebamusic |
Early life and education
editMereba was born in Montgomery, Alabama on September 19, 1990,[citation needed] and raised in Pennsylvania. Her father is from Ethiopia.[4][5] Her mother is African American and was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[6] Her family moved frequently because of her parents' jobs as university professors.[3]
Mereba first developed an interest in music at age four.[3] She began writing songs in elementary school and learned to play the piano and guitar.[4] She went to high school in Greensboro, North Carolina.[5][7]
Mereba attended Carnegie Mellon University[3] before transferring Spelman College.[3][4] She graduated from Spelman in 2011 with an English degree and a music minor.[3]
Career
edit2013–2017: Room For Living, Radio Flyer, and Spillage Village
editAfter several years performing in the indie music scene in Atlanta, Mereba self-released her debut project Room For Living EP, under her full name, on February 14, 2013.[8]
2018–2019, 2021: The Jungle is the Only Way Out & "Glock Peaceful"
editIn 2018, Mereba signed to Interscope Records,[9] releasing the singles "Black Truck" and "Planet U",[10][11] which went on to appear on her debut album, The Jungle Is The Only Way Out, released February 27, 2019.[12][13] The album, often acronymed as TJITOWO, was written and produced by Mereba with co-production by Samuel Hoffman, excluding the Stevie Wonder-produced track, "Black Truck".
On December 13, 2021, Mereba released "Glock Peaceful", which envisions a country free of gun violence and police brutality.[14] The song was featured on season 5 of the show Insecure produced by Issa Rae on HBO Max.[15]
2024-present: The Breeze Grew a Fire
editIn October 2024, it was announced Mereba signed a deal with Secretly Canadian, releasing the single "Counterfeit", which served as the lead single to her upcoming second album The Breeze Grew a Fire. The album is scheduled to be released on February 14, 2025.[16]
Influences
editMereba has cited Stevie Wonder as a mentor and musical influence.[17][18] In 2017, she performed alongside Wonder in Malibu.[19]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| The Jungle is the Only Way Out |
|
| Spilligion (as part of Spillage Village) |
|
| The Breeze Grew a Fire |
|
Extended plays
edit| Title | Mixtape details |
|---|---|
| Room For Living |
|
| Radio Flyer |
|
| Kotton House, Vol. 1 |
|
| Azeb |
|
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Album(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "September" | 2014 | Non-album singles |
| "Radio Flyer" | ||
| "Bet" | 2016 | |
| "Black Truck" | 2018 | |
| "Planet U" | ||
| "Late Bloomer" | ||
| "Sandstorm" | 2019 |
Guest appearances
edit| Title | Year | Other performer(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "UFOs" | 2013 | EarthGang | Shallow Graves For Toys |
| "Ultra Rare" | |||
| "Grand Theft Auto" | JID | Para Tu | |
| "Church" | 2014 | Miloh Smith | Pulp Fiction |
| "Good Night" | Cyhi the Prynce | Black Hystori Project | |
| "Lucky Buddha" | JID, Money Makin' Nique | Lucky Buddha | |
| "Calypso" | Khary | Swim Team | |
| "Fryin'" | 2015 | Spillage Village | Bears Like This Too |
| "Love Child" | |||
| "Liquor Sto'" | EarthGang | Strays With Rabies | |
| "Lady Nectarine" | |||
| "Letters" | JID | Non-album single[20] | |
| "Off The Lot" | 2018 | EarthGang | Royalty |
| "PTSD" | 2019 | Dreamville | Revenge of the Dreamers III |
| "Myrlie" | Rapsody | Eve | |
| "Yo Love" | Vince Staples, 6lack | Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack | |
| "Self" | 2020 | Brandon Banks | Static |
| "Same Boat" | Kojey Radical | Non-album single | |
| "Like I Feel" | Xavier Omar | If You Feel | |
| "Westside" | Reason | New Beginnings | |
| "End of Daze" | Spillage Village | Spilligion | |
| "Hapi" | |||
| "Pslamsing" | |||
| "Golden Pt. 2" | Berhana | Non-album single |
References
edit- ^ "Mereba finds exceptional strength and love on AZEB EP". June 3, 2021.
- ^ https://www.interscope.com/artists/mereba [bare URL]
- ^ a b c d e f Martin, Syreeta (July 22, 2016). "[BLACK, FRESH & 20-SOMETHING]Singer/Songwriter Marian Mereba". EBONY. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
- ^ a b c "INTERVIEW: Marian Mereba on her musical journey, her tree hugging ways & the Atlanta music scene". AFROPUNK. September 16, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
- ^ a b "Mereba Is a Musician Who Thrives on Discomfort". www.lofficielusa.com. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
- ^ Wong Ken, Steph (February 14, 2020). "Mereba and the Never-Ending Story of the Jungle". She Shreds Media. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ "Mereba". Spotify. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
- ^ "Room For Living EP, by Marian Mereba". Marian Mereba. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
- ^ Kermah, Jonathan. "Mereba, Solange and black women leading the charge in music". Amherst Wire. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
- ^ Kim, Michelle (October 1, 2018). ""Planet U" by Mereba (review)". Pitchfork.
- ^ "10 songs you need in your life this week". The FADER. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- ^ "Mereba Relays Emotionally-Layered Dynamism in 'The Jungle is the Only Way Out'". Hypebeast. February 27, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- ^ Lyle, Ashley (February 28, 2019). "Mereba Captivates Her Audience During "The Jungle Is The Only Way Out" Listening". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- ^ "Mereba: AZEB EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ Inman, DeMicia (November 30, 2021). "Issa Rae Shares 'Insecure' Season 5 Soundtrack Tracklist Featuring Saweetie, Mereba, And More". VIBE.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew. "Mereba Announces First Album Since 2019, Shares Video for New Song "Counterfeit"". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ "interview | mereba". Schön! Magazine. June 17, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ^ Schemmer, Cynthia (February 14, 2020). "Mereba and the Never-Ending Story of the Jungle". She Shreds Media. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ^ "An Evening with Stevie Wonder & Mereba". Retrieved March 16, 2019.
- ^ Thomas, Amara. "J.I.D Premieres Reflective New Single, "Letter"". The Fader. Retrieved May 14, 2019.