Ethiopian-American singer Mereba has returned with her sophomore album, The Breeze Grew a Fire, via Secretly Canadian.
She wrote every song on the album, as well as produced alongside Sam Hoffman and Kibrom Birhane.
Across 13 gentle tracks, Mereba embarks on a soul-replenishing journey through the lens of motherhood. Heartwarming songs like “Out of the Blue” and “Starlight (my baby)” are dedicated to her son, who she gave birth to in 2021.
“Sanctuary” is a testament to protecting her peace after enduring tumultuous times. She sings in the chorus: “I’ve done my deeds / Planted seeds I never watered / But I swear as I got older / I could see that all the gold was / There inside me / So I keep a lock and key / And a tight security.”
“Heart of a Child,” another standout, sees Mereba reconnecting with her inner child. “I remember counting days / Until I was wild and free / Now I’m counting up the ways / I could find the kid in me,” she sings. The song highlights the paradoxical desire of wanting to be older when we’re younger and vice versa: “Why we wanna be young when we’re old / And we wanna be old when we’re young,” she contemplates in the bridge.
“Heart of a Child” arrives with a music video directed by Maranata Tegegne. The nostalgic video was filmed in various historical neighborhoods in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and shows Mereba observing a younger version of herself with performance scenes interwoven.
Filmed entirely in several historical neighborhoods in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, the video cuts between images of Mereba and her inner child showcasing her fresh and curious perspective of the world and was directed by Maranata Tegegne.
Regarding The Breeze Grew a Fire, Mereba shared, “For this [album], it went back to me being on my own for the creation of a lot of the songs, and it was really important for me at this time of life because I was a little disconnected from the world, and from who I was. So I was trying to find my way back to myself first. What do I like? What do I want to hear? What do I want to say to people now?”
She further explained to The Line of Best Fit, “This album is about relationships that are consistent and soft. Not the romantic, fiery kind of love. It’s about the people in my life who empower me without making noise. The people who feel like a breeze.”
Mereba kicked off her new era in October 2024 with the self-affirming anthem “Counterfeit.”
Speaking on the track, she wrote on Instagram: “Sometimes, somehow, we become the villain in our own stories. Be it self sabotage, blurred purpose, a lostness you can’t even name… This song and video are a reminder of the root, the parts of a person no circumstance or darkness can strip away.”
In January, she followed up with “Phone Me,” a feel-good track that celebrates friendship.
“This song is a sisterhood / friendship anthem dedicated to those classic bestie friendships that may have changed over the years, but are still cherished deeply,” Mereba explained. “The experiences we shared helped us shape our journeys and have confidence in our destinies. I just wanted a fun, joyful song celebrating my chosen sisters and brothers.”
The Breeze Grew a Fire is the follow-up to Mereba’s debut album, The Jungle Is The Only Way Out, released in 2019 via Interscope Records. In between her two albums, she released her AZEB EP in 2021. The seven-track project, titled after her middle name, included standouts like “Rider” and “Go(l)d.”
Mereba will support her second album on her headlining The Breeze Grew a Fire Tour, which begins April 24 in Sacramento. The tour will visit Portland, Denver, Chicago, Toronto, New York and more before concluding May in Los Angeles.
Stream Mereba’s new album The Breeze Grew a Fire and see her upcoming tour dates below.
Mereba’s Breeze Grew a Fire Tour 2025 Dates
Apr 24 – Sacramento, CA @ Harlows Nightclub
Apr 25 – San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 Club
Apr 27 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
Apr 28 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
May 1 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
May 4 – Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck
May 6 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
May 7 – Detroit, MI @ The Magic Stick
May 9 – Toronto, ON – The Axis Club
May 10 – Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmont
May 13 – Philadelphia, PA @ TLA
May 14 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall – Grand Ballroom
May 16 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
May 17 – Washington, DC @ Howard Theatre
May 21 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
Get tickets at merebamusic.com.
