Mereba The Breeze Grew a Fire (Blue)

Southern-bred, alternative R&B singer-songwriterMereba artistically embodies self-understanding on The BreezeGrew a Fire, her grandest work and first release on SecretlyCanadian. To hone in on this latest album, it was necessary forMereba to reconnect with her whole many-sided self, from herinner child to her inseparable relationships. Mereba peacefullytransmutes her beginnings, looking upon her closest kinshipsand friendships with a keen understanding of their steadying,inspirational force. Surrounded by the gentle Breeze of theserelationships and recollections, Mereba is empowered as bothan artist and mother, while also being reminded to nurture herchildlike wonder.Mereba gracefully shines on the follow-up to herbounteous 2019 debut, The Jungle Is the Only Way Out. Inescaping the Jungle, Mereba faced the paradigm shift ofbirthing a son in 2021 and getting accustomed to a rapidlychanging self-outlook. Mereba's creative output has alwaysrelied on her innermost reflections and ideas on whatever washappening around her; but in motherhood, the singer'sperspective widened while her inspiration became morefocused, and more individually powerful."Even though I'm fully an adult, I had to grow up in away overnight when he [my son] came," Mereba explains. "Theprocess of watching him open up to the world, learn how toengage with the world, it is very tender. I feel like it's the mostreminded I've ever been of when I was a child and the firstmemories I have of life."The transformation brought Mereba to the intimacy ofDIY recording sessions, providing an honest and organicfoundation to Breeze. Mereba tapped her longtime productioncollaborator Sam Hoffman to co-assemble the album's richproduction, which parallels it's folk-like warmth. AlthoughMereba is a true double Earth sign-Virgo and Virgo rising-thedevelopment of Breeze was anchored by experiences andmemories that span from Atlanta to L.A., Addis Ababa toGreensboro, an intention that speaks to the album's fluidnature. While nowhere near the end of her musical trek, TheBreeze Grew a Fire is a loving, inspiring return to origin, onewhere Mereba frees a painful past, eases into future possibilities,and goes with life's flow