The singer and songwriter from South
Africa known as Merique has released her latest rock record, “The
Coming Dawn.” The LP contains eight original tracks for an
approximate total listening time of 35 minutes. It has been proudly
published on the Lunacy Records independent music label.
Introspective, passionate, heartfelt and expertly written and
performed, “The Coming Dawn” is the latest example that the
African indie music scene is ablaze in 2016.
Asked to cite some key artistic
influences, Merique notes, “I was exposed to many types of music as
a child. In my teens, when I started performing, I studied a large
variety of artists so it's hard to really say who my influences are.
But if I'd have to choose a few I'd say: Celine Dion, Shania Twain
and Whitney Houston.”
This amalgam gives music fans a good
idea of Merique's own vocal style. She has a broad range largely in
the upper register, and stays loyal to most traditional singing
principles. Her studio work is unblemished by auto-tune, over-gating,
and other technologies which might otherwise wash out her natural
tone. Though she's clearly a practiced chanteuse, Merique's singing
retains a certain raw quality that feels genuine rather than
mechanically precise.
Fans of romantic themes in rock and
contemporary adult music will be enthusiastic about Merique's lyrical
clout, too.
She writes that her songs on “The
Coming Dawn” concern “Mostly heartbreak and dealing with wounds
from past relationships. It was actually quite funny – one of the
band members turned to me after a session and said, 'Well, I hope
your love life picks up!' LOL.”
Still: “It's not that bad though.
These aren't 'slit-your-wrists' type songs or anything. They actually
all have a powerful side to them where I'm saying, 'Yes, I've been
hurt and I'm dealing with a few things, but I'll be okay! I'm looking
up to the coming dawn.'”
Vocalist Merique Hanekom is joined on
“The Coming Dawn” by Terry Scarberry on guitars, Dave Copenhaver
on bass guitar, Steve Short on drums, and Ryan Jones on keyboards.
The record also features strings arranged by David Powell.
Merique has been singing since the age
of 14. She graduated from Somerset West music school in 2011 at the
top of her class and held two choreographed, sold-out shows at the
World Championships of Performing Arts in Hollywood, California,
where she represented her home nation of South Africa. She went on to
be the 18-24 Division and Industry Award winner. In 2013 she
completed her VIDLA Certificate in Contemporary Vocal Teaching with
Upper Merit while choreographing and playing a lead character in the
acclaimed Afrikaans musical “Skalie Skinnerstories tref
Stoffontein” [http://www.vidla.uk/].
Her current solo project began in 2015
and saw her recording at Studio Seven in Oklahoma City for Lunacy
Records. She took advantage of her time in the USA to shoot an
official music video for her popular single, “Last Love Song,”
which appears on her new LP as Track 3 and will be available for
viewing from Lunacy Records soon.
Merique's “The Coming Dawn” LP is
preceded by three singles not on the new album, “Legacy,”
“Butterfl-eyes,” and “Rivers,” the last of which was
published to bring awareness to the condition of rivers in South
Africa.
“This song is meant for raising
awareness regarding the fragile state of our rivers,” Merique has
stated. “Just as the rivers are all connected and flow into the
sea, so we are all connected and affected by the most important
source of life: water. We as humans have a responsibility to educate
and make known the fact that we cannot live without water!”
“Rivers” was later associated with
a video filmed on-location in South Africa by highly acclaimed film
makers Flying Fish Productions, whose work can be seen on National
Geographic, the Discovery Channel and BBC.
Merique has performed in South Africa
at Bloemfontein, Bethlehem, Welkom, Smithfield (Free State),
Rustenburg (North West Province), De Aar and Richmond (Northern
Cape), Graaf Reinet and Cradock (Eastern Cape), various cities in
Gauteng, Lambertsbaai, Somerset West, Paarl, Langebaan, Malmesbury,
Moorreesburg Wellington, Stellenbosch, Oudtshoorn (Western Cape), and
in the USA at Los Angeles.
“I'd just like to thank everyone who
has encouraged and supported me up 'til now,” writes Merique. “Some
are new friends, some have been with me from the very beginning and
others, I have yet to meet! I'm so excited about what 2016 holds and
look forward to sharing this journey with all of you!”
“The Coming Dawn” by Merique is
available online at over 700 digital outlets worldwide.
-S. McCauley
Lead Press Release Writer
www.MondoTunes.com
“The Coming Dawn” by
Merique –
Official Website –
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