Meresha – “Red Headed Lover”

Meresha is getting lusty in her new single “Red Headed Lover,” but her sensuousness isn’t shaped by any costumed look she could have adopted for the track’s music video. For this performance, Meresha is depending on her vocal ability almost exclusively when it comes to turning up the tension and pushing us to the edge of our seats. Her singing cuts through even the densest of synth melodies in the backdrop, and at no point does she ever take a backseat to any instrumental component in this song. “Red Headed Lover” is the story of a temptress, and moreover, the composer giving her life. 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mereshas

The video for this single is really energetic, arguably just as much as the track is by itself, which allows for Meresha to increase the focus on her rhythm section. The percussion and the bass are melded together as if born of the same force in the universe, but if you’re listening at a louder volume you can absolutely tell where one element ends and another begins. Clarity isn’t as important as colliding melodic fireworks are in “Red Headed Lover,” and that becomes clear inside of the song’s first thirty seconds. 

I definitely think that Meresha is sounding more comfortable in her performance in this single than she has previously, which is rather telling of how much she’s grown into her identity as a musician and songwriter. There’s not even the slightest hint of hesitation in her execution, but instead a lot of swagger that comes from having time to find what really works. Her studio evolution is something that young up and comers should really look at with immense respect, as it’s a testament to the idea of there never being any real need to rush your way into an album, or for that matter something as simple as a new single. When you’ve got real flavor, sometimes it’s best to let things simmer. 

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/red-headed-lover-single/1546360071?i=1546360075&ign-gact=3&ls=1

While I’ve been loosely following Meresha’s campaign for over a year, this is an upgraded sound that I didn’t think she was going to bring forth so soon in her career. All the same, “Red Headed Lover” is required listening for fans of her artistry as well as indie pop in general, as it doesn’t just display a player who has come into her own in a short amount of time, but it shows us an angle of a songwriter that is making real magic right now. 

Mindy McCall