Mereba: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Watch Mereba play “Black Truck”, “Stay Tru”, “Dodging The Devil” and “Kinfolk” at the Tiny Desk.

More from NPR Music:
Tiny Desk Concerts: https://www.npr.org/tinydesk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nprmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nprmusic

Dec 2, 2019 | Rodney Carmichael — Very few artists get to return to the Tiny Desk, and fewer still return twice in the same year. But after contributing background vocals behind the desk for Dreamville artist Bas in early 2019, we invited Mereba back for a solo set that puts her eclectic, major-label debut The Jungle Is The Only Way Out into sharp focus.

“I’m so excited to be here with you guys,” she said one song into a set that features the multi-instrumentalist alternating between keys and guitar. “Wow. Dreams coming true.”

The stripped-down soundscape Mereba achieves live with her four-piece band is equally dreamlike here, drawing from influences as wide-ranging as the many places she’s called home (Alabama, Philly, North Carolina, Atlanta, Ethiopia). As she pulls from genres as seemingly disparate as folk, rap and spoken word, her set reflects the years she spent perfecting her craft on live stages in Atlanta cafes and clubs, where she attracted the attention of the indie creative collective Spillage Village (EarthGang, J.I.D, 6lack) before joining them in 2014.

But it’s under the main spotlight that Mereba shines best, with her gift for lyrical storytelling putting her centerstage where the devil himself couldn’t cast doubt on her dreams.

SET LIST
“Black Truck”
“Stay Tru”
“Dodging The Devil”
“Kinfolk”

MUSICIANS
Mereba: vocals, guitar; Sam Hoffman: guitar, bass; Chris James: bass; Aisha Gaillard: drums; Olivia Walker: vocals

CREDITS
Producers: Rodney Carmichael, Bobby Carter, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Maia Stern, Tsering Bista, Jack Corbett; Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey; VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann; Photo: Mhari Shaw/NPR

The videos on this website are sourced from YouTube, and are embedded using the public API provided by YouTube. By using this website, you acknowledge that the videos displayed are the property of their respective owners, and remain subject to the copyright laws of the owner.
All articles, images, product names, logos, and brands featured on this website are the property of their respective owners, and we make no claim to ownership or affiliation with any of these entities.
Please note that your use of embedded videos from YouTube is subject to YouTube's terms of service and privacy policy. By using this website and viewing embedded videos, you agree to abide by YouTube's terms of service and privacy policy.
If you have any questions or concerns about the content displayed on this website, please contact us using the information provided on the website.