When did you discover your love and talent for music?
I’ve always loved music since I can
remember, but I know for sure that I loved music when I came to America and
didn’t speak English, when I used to cry whenever I heard beautiful music. Music
is powerful.
Tell us a bit about your new EP? When is
it coming out?
The new EP is an acoustic visual representation of my Marieme EP. It’s raw;
just me and one instrument and beautiful visuals. It’ll be out in mid Dec.
Your family escaped from Mauritania
because of war, went to Senegal and moved to the USA, where you
joined them when you were 7 years old. How did these events influence the
path you took in music?
It made me realize how important it was to sing about positive uplifting
things that will help us be better humans, so that we as people won’t engage in
atrocities like wars and treat each other better.
What is the song Leave about?
Leave is about loving yourself
enough to walk away from negativity. It’s about knowing when love is not right
but not losing hope of it.
You did not listen to music at home
before coming to the US. Who are your biggest influences these days?
Still Whitney [Houston], her voice was insane. Lauryn Hill, still one of the
greatest.
"I didn’t know how much anger I was holding in. I had to let go of all of that before I could truly sing, and in my message, I try to relay the importance of being yourself, loving yourself and following your dreams!" - Marieme
Yes I did, lol.
You studied journalism and communications at the University
of Buffalo, and then later travelled to Peru for a meditation ceremony. How does it all
connect with the music?
I studied journalism and communications because I didn’t think I would be allowed to follow my passions,
so naturally I was never really happy and found ways to be self-destructive
without even realizing it. Years later that led me to Peru to get my mind and
heart right. I didn’t know how much anger I was holding in. I had to let go
of all of that before I could truly sing, and in my message, I try to
relay the importance of being yourself, loving yourself and following your
dreams! Studying journalism and communications helped me to be a better
writer, which is vital now because I write my own lyrics.
Do you return to Senegal often?
Yes, I was just there a month ago. I’m working on music there and the Art
scene is popping!
What tracks do you have on repeat these
days?
Black Coffee.
What can we expect from your show at the
Standard, East Village as part of the Annie O Music Series?
Emotions, you’ll definitely feel things. You might cry you might laugh...
you’ll feel.
