Single Review: Blue

Blue, the debut single from singer-songwriter Mema Wilda is an entrancing and intriguing mixture of highly original, yet hauntingly familiar folk-rock. Mema Wilda is a relatively fresh face on the Auckland live-music scene but she has emerged with a mature sound and approach.

Kicking off with a guitar riff that feels vaguely reminiscent of ‘Great Lake Swimmers’ meets ‘Sufjan Stevens’ and punctuated by a powerfully minimalistic beat, Blue is a track that really hangs from the velvety-smooth, effortlessly melancholic vocal delivery. It is indeed the vocal, pushing out simple, yet beautifully yearning lyrics that takes pride of place holding Blue together, keeping it moving, and also keeping the listener interested.

And what a vocal it is! Clean, clear, and wonderfully restrained, the vocal climax soars over the track, providing an unexpected, but appreciated, counterpoint to bassier, more-chilled out verse delivery.

The song progresses through its structure with a seamless flow that clearly signals Mema Wilda’s songwriting prowess. There are no surprises here, no sudden jumps between seemingly disparate parts, and that’s because that’s not the kind of song this is. Instead, this is custom built for a more relaxed, less challenging musical experience. This is a song that takes you along for the ride and holds you there until it’s finished with you!

Blue is a beautiful song with lush production, and a wonderful first statement as an artist.