Photographed by: [Pol Kurucz](https://www.instagram.com/polkurucz/)
Senegal-born, NYC and LA-based artist [Marieme](https://www.instagram.com/mariememusic/) is doing something bold—she’s got empathy. Using the philosophy of change-makers of the past, Marieme has sought out a common ground through her music. The singer, with the liquid gold pipes and a sound that could be quickly labeled as neo-soul, defies genre. Bridging cultures and techniques, the musician grows her magically melodic portfolio.
The powerfully forward-thinking and open minded talent has only become busier in recent months recently dropped her newest EP, _Songs for the Revolution_. Having recently collaborated with major stars like British singer, actor, and supermodel Cara Delevingne, her career is moving in to a new level. _Flaunt_ had a chance to speak with this quickly growing star in the midst of an accelerating career.
**What was the thinking behind titling the EP _Songs of the Revolution_?**
So I was actually telling someone the other day that I didn't realize this until after, an acronym of songs for the revolution—SFTR—which means softer. The SFTR stands for the softer revolution, and that's what I actually want to do with people. I want to soften people's hearts so that we can be better humans. But the reason why I named it the _Songs of the Revolution_ is because I see so many different pockets of revolutions happening all over the world. It's just very important to, while we're fighting, to steer it towards love. Just like trying to steer it in the right direction.
One of my favorite quotes is ‘ To free the oppressed, you must also free the oppressors.’ And that's the only way you end the cycle. That's what I wanted to do with this EP.
**Do you have a specific track that was super defining for you?**
For me, I love all of them. They're all so different, they're all very interesting. They all touch on something that's very important, a woman-centered society. You teach a woman, you educate a woman, you educate the generations. So it's about women, the key points we need to touch on to be better humans, because at the end of the day, I feel like all these problems that we have, from racism, climate change, everything, is a human issue. Humans are the problem. So I want to work on humans. And not just one specific thing, because we needed to meet it here. We are the ones that need to change.
**Do you see the industry changing in that direction—one where people are becoming more conscious in their music?**
What I was thinking the other day was, no one's music is timeless. Like, if you're trying to do the same thing, or if you're trying to be of the times, it will never last. You have to change something. You have to do something. A lot of people are also just tired of the same old thing. They want substance. They want to feel. It's time to start feeling again. We don't just want to be passive and leave things in the background, no, we want to actually activate people. And that's what it's all about, I guess—activation.
**You recently returned to Senegal. What was that like returning?**
I love Africa. I love Senegal, my country. And I just love the people there. And it was just very organic. I'm actually going to go again in December, because a bunch of Senegalese artists are going to get together and just create stuff. I love going back there, getting back in touch with my roots. And the people are so supportive there. I love the food. It's just a cool culture. The kids are just so cool, and they just are ambitious. And they just want to do things. It's a renaissance.
**Do you incorporate that into your music at all?**
Yeah, I've actually collaborated with one of my friends. A dear friend of mine. Her name is Diarra Sylla. She's an international star. She was part of this group called Now United. She's Senegalese, so we just have a song that's about to come out soon called ‘Catch a Vibe.’ It has incorporated some Senegalese drums in it. And she's singing in Wolof, which is our language. So it's kind of bridging the gap. Africa has always been the past, the present, and the future.
**Do you associate with a specific genre or try not to?**
I feel like the music of the future is going to be genreless. I was talking from the other day, and I feel like the best artists have not even existed yet. Because now they have everything that's ever existed, if you can learn from it properly.
I do like a lot of genres, and I feel like my music is like a mix between a lot of things. I like to do a lot of different things, like I'm working with the Japanese band called End of the World. I'm an international person, and I want to put everything into my music, and then I want to experience the cosmos. I don't want to limit myself. But I also understand how people get uncomfortable when you're not in a box. They need to know you for something, but why can I just be known for being ever-changing.
**Do you find it cathartic to express yourself through music, or is it a challenging feat to pour your heart into it?**
Yes and no. At first, I was very closed off. I was a very sensitive person. I didn't really know how to read my emotions. And then, when I started doing music, I didn't think I was a writer until I really really started writing, and then I just drew into the whole process, and I don't find it tedious or anything. I love being able to see what melodies are going to go together nicely. What is the best way to put this message together, like how is it gonna sound the best? The music world is just a fascinating place. I feel very lucky.
**Where do you see yourself going as an artist? Do you see yourself going in a specific direction music-wise?**
No. I have the sound in my head that I'm trying to get out, so I just had to learn how to use that. I'm learning how to record myself. I record myself a lot since the quarantine, so I'm setting up a situation where I'm learning to do that. I'm learning to sing out a different tone in my voice. I'm learning guitar, a little piano. I don't think I'm going to stick to any one thing. I just feel like I'm going to do what I feel like doing and what I feel it is at the right moment
I want to do a lot of different things that just express myself in order just to be able to spread the message in many different ways.
**Silly question: Do you have a dream collaboration? Dream artists to write a song with?**
Yeah, totally. Kendrick Lamar, maybe like SerpentwithFeet, I love him. I've just been feeling a lot of people. Oh, I would love a collaboration with Burna Boy. I like eclectic music.
**Anything else you want to share with the world?**
I actually have an app with exclusive content for people who listen to music. I'm just trying to bridge the gap and trying to do new things between technology. Just do cool stuff and live your life. Love yourself.
**What is the main takeaway you hope people have from your music?**
Just know yourself and understand yourself. I feel like that's what I want to do is create manuals for humanity, so that all their conditioning doesn't hit a wall anymore. And ‘if then’ statements work—you have the proper ‘if then’ statements and you know that you're not just hitting a wall and becoming angry. Just understanding life, humanity, and where we are in the universe, and you know who we are, and I feel like that will ease a lot of pain for people and will just begin to understand how similar we are and how connected we are. That we don't need to be doing half of the stupid things we are doing.
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