Article by Chris Snyder
Have you ever listened to a song and become hooked within the first few seconds? One of those songs for us this week is “Freedom,” the newest single from Nashville-based singer-songwriter MELD. Released yesterday, the single comes as the first bit of material from MELD’s forthcoming debut album, a self-titled record that was mastered by Anthony Thogmartin of Papadosio (via his solo music moniker EarthCry) and mixed by Paul “Paco” Cossette, most notable for his work with Sturgill Simpson.
You can stream “Freedom” below, courtesy of MELD’s official YouTube page, and also hear it on all available streaming platforms.
Here’s what we think of the track: The new single brings the listener on a heartfelt journey that evidences MELD’s sense of raw emotion and songwriting ability. The real beauty of the song here may be the difficulty to pinpoint one specific genre that it hits. Showcased up front and foremost is the impressively wide range of MELD’s vocals, which deliver heartfelt lyrics, like “On the break of sanity I found my epiphany.” Accompanying this powerful voice are funky rhythms, soaring melodies, and a powerful horn section to round it all out.
MELD describes her music with a self-coined term: “UniverSOUL,” which in her own words is “a mixture between the big band gospel feeling of Tedeschi-Trucks Band, the neo-soul and progressive jazz sounds of Becca Stevens and Hiatus Kaiyote, all tied together with the eco-conscious messages of artists such as Nahkobear and Ayla Nereo.”
MELD’s self-titled debut album is set to be released on August 28, but for a taste of what’s to come, check out “Freedom” below. For more information, head to her website here.