Marian Azeb Mereba (born September 19, 1990), known mononymously as Mereba, is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer.

Early life

Mereba was born in Montgomery, Alabama on September 19, 1990, and raised in Pennsylvania. She first developed an interest in music at age 4. Starting with singing, Mereba eventually learned to play piano, and then guitar. Mereba's parents moved frequently to accommodate their jobs as university professors. Because of this, she was raised around different people with wide ranges of backgrounds. She began writing songs in elementary school and has said they were "a way to process her feelings of often feeling like an outsider in her environment." Mereba went to high school in Greensboro, North Carolina. She also spent nearly a year living in Ethiopia, her father's home country. Her mother is African-American and was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Education

After graduating high school at 17, Mereba continued her education at her parents' insistence, attending

Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of its predecessors was established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schools; it became the Carnegie Institute of Technology ...

in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She eventually transferred in 2009 to the liberal arts women's college Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, seeking to immerse herself in the legacy of the historically black women's college. Mereba graduated from Spelman in 2011 with an English degree and a Music minor.

Career

2013–2017: ''Room For Living'', ''Radio Flyer'', and Spillage Village

After spending 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.

2018–2019: ''The Jungle Is The Only Way Out''

In 2018, Mereba signed to

Interscope Records Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M imprint. Founded in late 1990 by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field as a $20 million joint venture with Atlantic Records of Warner Mus ...

, releasing the singles "Black Truck" and "Planet U", which would go on to appear on her debut album, ''The Jungle Is The Only Way Out'', released February 27, 2019. The album, often acronymed as ''TJITOWO'', was written and produced by Mereba with co-production by Samuel Hoffman, excluding the 9th Wonder-produced track, "Black Truck."

2021: Glock Peaceful

On December 13, 2021, Mereba released ''Glock Peaceful''. The newly released song was featured as a soundtrack on season 5 of the show '' Insecure'' produced by

Issa Rae Jo-Issa Rae Diop (born January 12, 1985), credited professionally as Issa Rae, is an American actress, writer, producer, and comedian. Rae first garnered attention for her work on the YouTube web series ''Awkward Black Girl''. Since 2011, Rae h ...

on HBO Max. This song was produced by herself along with producers Chris McClenny and Biako. Her song ''Glock Peaceful'' carries the same themes of racial violence and intersectionality as her Album the Jungle is the only way out. ''Glock Peaceful'' is a foreshadowing of a country free of gun violence and police brutality. Mereba tells the role of a storyteller in the song as she illustrates a sunny day in LA where there are no cops and guns are peaceful. The ''Glock Peaceful'' singer who has a wonderful way of acknowledging black trauma while planting hope ends the song by assuring the listener that a neighborhood free of gun violence is one step away.”

Influences

Mereba cites Stevie Wonder as her "fairy Godfather" after meeting him in 2016 and becoming his mentee through the last stretch of finishing of her debut album, ''The Jungle is the Only Way Out''. Wonder specifically encouraged Mereba to continue to produce her own music, comparing her passion for production to his own passion for songwriting early in his career. Both passions were initially discouraged by the people who worked with both Mereba and Wonder. Mereb a performed alongside Wonder at Soho House in Malibu in 2017, where he co-signed and personally introduced her to an intimate audience of listeners.

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

Guest appearances

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mereba, Marian 1990 births Living people African-American women singers American rhythm and blues musicians Musicians from Montgomery, Alabama American people of Ethiopian descent Spelman College alumni Interscope Records artists Dreamville Records artists