Mereba Had to Dive Into Darkness When Making 'The Jungle is the Only Way Out'

For the latest entry in our Conversations With interview series, HYPEBEAST linked up with Mereba, a talented singer from Atlanta who’s been making incredible music. We sit down to discuss the making of her debut album The Jungle Is The Only Way Out, her love for Whitney Houston and her Ethiopian roots.

Marian Mereba, known simply as Mereba, has been crafting heartfelt singles and displaying impressive songwriting for a few years, beginning her career as a member of the ATL-based collective Spillage Village. Born in Alabama and raised on the East Coast, Mereba credits Lauryn Hill and Joni Mitchell as inspirations in addition to receiving a major cosign from music legend Stevie Wonder. With a wealth of talent and unique perspective, Mereba sees music as her tool for a bigger cause.

“I had such an epiphany about myself as a Black woman, about the things I can do if I was willing to, in the words of Nipsey, just run the marathon instead of just sprinting,” says while discussing her duality as an African American and Ethiopian woman in America. “If I was willing to take the time and the energy to do something bigger than myself, I can be a reflection of those people that I have found.”

The Interscope Records signee released The Jungle is the Only Way Out, an impressive 13-track album earlier this year. The LP features artists such as 6LACK on “Heatwave” and J.I.D. on “Sandstorm,” but shines with cuts like “Planet U” and “Black Truck.” For Mereba, however, the creative process behind the album was tough.

“I barely ate, I didn’t take care of myself a lot of didn’t ways. All that was keeping me going was knowing that I have that safe space that I can go back to,” she states. Most recently, she was featured on Revenge of the Dreamers III, which just debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Watch the interview above.