There’s no one right way to deal with grief and over the years we’ve heard songwriters explore this painful part of human experience in so many different ways. Now, UK-based South African artist meelu is adding her voice to the community with ‘candlelight’, which is a beautiful ode to the memory of her late grandmother, her oumi. While reminiscent of Phoebe Bridgers and Lizzy McAlpine, this track immediately took us by surprise with the skipping percussion, which we don’t typically associate with songs of loss. Yet, that’s what makes ‘candlelight‘ so worth your time; it’s got such an original flavour.
Those frenetic beats are paired with a plucked guitar melody, both of which are wrapped in a warm, somewhat dreamy production. All of this hazy indie-pop atmosphere complements meelu‘s airy vocals, which skim effortlessly across the top of this succinct arrangement. Throughout the track, she moves between the bitterness of grief with lines like, “I’m not ready to say goodbye,” through to cherishing their relationship. It’s actually the most touching lyric, “I am not leaving you, I am just going before you,” that were the chosen words on meelu‘s grandmother’s gravestone.
There’s something so special about the maternal connection that runs through families and you can really hear the love and adoration that meelu still holds for her grandmother. As the track progresses and all the elements intensify, a rising sense of hope comes to the fore. By the time you reach the close of ‘candlelight’, you can’t help but feel lifted, refreshed and reflective.
You can listen to ‘candlelight’ in our Shades of Pop playlist.
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