#streamcaribbean "Aurore" by Maeliah
The #streamcaribbean chronicles for 2023 continue. After Lorenz and his "Lunatiq" EP (January), Kevni and his "INEVITAB" EP, Yoan and his “Gemini II” (February), Rachelle Allison and her "Féeries" album (February), it’s time to talk about Maeliah and her “Aurore” [t/n: aurore means dawn in French] EP released on March 31st, 2023.
In my #streamcaribbean discussion with Lorenz, we talked about strategies for maintaining visibility when mainstream media ignores artists. Spontaneously, he reflected on the difficulty of launching a career today, even in this social media era. The fact is, we don't yet have enough hindsight to know what strategies work for artists whose marketing strategy is focused on music without an Instagrammable lifestyle or diversification of activities. In any case, it's undeniable that social media makes it easier to build a primary audience. This is the case for Maeliah, a young singer from Martinique.
I spent about a year seeing her classic Zouk covers on my Twitter feed but never took the time to click until Lorenz invited her to sing along. Their duet "On Minit", taken from "Lunatiq", was on heavy rotation on my Spotify earlier this year, but I wasn't invested yet. Her live performance at Rachelle Allison's concert at La Boule Noire, where she sang some of her compositions, intrigued me nonetheless. What would be the artistic translation of this sweet solar stage presence?
"Trauma" as the opening track threw me off because I thought it was a Rachelle Allison’s song. They have the same team, so what I mean goes beyond the musical signature that their collaborators have developed. Above all, I'm talking about the break-up theme. For several weeks, I felt that there was a disconect, even a contradiction, between the lyrics about a young woman taking her destiny into her own hands after a romantic relationship ended and the lyrics of the other five tracks about a young woman idealizing love.
If "Adan Bra'w" and "Dès Qu'on Se Parle" tell the power of physical touch when you're blossoming in a relationship, "Crush" recalls the euphoria of unspoken, bubbling feelings. Each time, Maeliah sings from the point of view of a young woman amazed by a love making her eyes twinkle. "Si Nou Komansé", the most sensual track on the album, sketches out a physical intimacy scene where the young woman relies entirely on her partner to carry them through to the last second of their dance of desire.
As a certified romance fan, I never get tired of talking about romantic love in all the aspects it takes on in a healthy relationship. Yet the ultimate track of the album is definitely my favorite. "Mwen Révé" is an open letter to ourselves and our people encouraging us to dream big. Despite our history, despite the injustices we've suffered, we have the right to dream. Of course, we'll have to take action afterward, but we need to take that first step: imagining a happy life that's true to our values. And it's this desire to be happy that made me circle back to track number 1. This ability to love yourself instead of suffering and/or blaming the whole world out of fear of loneliness or fear of taking action.
In conclusion, "Aurore" is an album that celebrates love, that makes you want to believe in love. And it's good to be reminded of the lighter side of love, without the drama our choices can create around it. At a time when the media is constantly questioning the death of our Zouk and glorifying urban pop, Maeliah presents herself in all simplicity and authenticity with a contemporary Zouk. Her musical identity already shines through in an acoustic Caribbean pop style. And she's not afraid to say it. Perhaps it's that "je-ne-sais-quoi" that will set her apart in the years to come... What's your favorite track on this album?