MRLD

After hitting it big local side on her debut, singer-songwriter mrld (stylized lowercase and read as M-R-L-D) is keeping the pace with a new single, and is also making a name for herself, of all places, in Indonesia.

Young music artist mrld (real name Meriel De Jesus) is onto a good thing. Barely out of senior high school, the 18-year-old singer-songwriter already has a handful of hits to her credit.

If you haven’t heard, mrld had a smashing debut with an original song of hers titled “An Art Gallery Could Never Be As Unique As You.” While a seeming mouthful, said the song was one of the surprises hits during the pandemic. A slow burn type single that crept up, and before everybody could actually recite its title in full, already was on everybody’s playlist. To repeat, we might add.

With over 63 million streams since (on Spotify alone) on the said song, mrld was an unlikely hitmaker. Unlikely because having a hit song was the least in the mind of the 14-year-old moored. More so, being known on a large scale was not in the plan.

“It’s so unbelievable,” mrld commented in a recent interview. “I don’t have that much exposure; I rarely do gigs. I think having my songs reach a wide scale of people without that much exposure, I don’t think it’s real.  But yes, I’m so happy and very grateful for everyone who’s been listening to my songs.”

mrld is Meriel de Jesus (Facebook)

Not bad for a song recorded on a phone--mrld’s mom’s phone to be exact--which she borrowed and made use of to make her song in the bathroom and in her dresser cabinet or wherever she can. Using only its on-board instruments -- a few synth piano melodies, synth guitar and some vocal stacks, and a whole lotta charm.

As to the song’s theme, “I knew someone, and this person was so insecure. And I wasn’t really that good at comforting people with literal words, so I thought of writing a song,” shared mrld, adding “when you listen to the lyrics, it’s not just a love song, it’s more of like a reminder to love yourself. (What it’s saying is) you’re more than who you think you are.”

Describing it further, mrld said: “I wrote it when I was 14. It’s not what a typical 14-year-old would write. So, It’s unique and different from other love songs.”

Said song eventually became mrld’s launchpad into breaking into Indonesia.

“It’s so surreal. Not a lot of artists can do that, especially with a song made four years ago and then reach a place like Indonesia,” commented mrld. “I’m very happy it did.”

“I just want to connect with a lot of people, because the purpose of my writing really is, when people find it hard to say something, (hopefully) they can use my songs to confess or get a feeling out.”

Sure enough, listeners have connected to her tunes. A particular follow-up single titled “Ligaya” was almost equally huge, with more than 60 million-plus streams. Lilting ballad “Ikaw Pa Rin” is also a fan favorite, and so is the mellow acoustic-tinged alt-pop song “Maligayang Pagkunwari.”

(Facebook)

A recently released single called “Just Because” – a mid-tempo pop ballad that picks up on her debut single’s theme, a practical ode to a loved one, is also doing well.

Asked to describe herself, mrld kept it to a few words.

“Passionate, creative, and perhaps productive.”

Don’t forget unique.