Mared – lately (2024)
From Charlotte Church and Luke Evans to the Treorchy Male Choir and the Welsh fans at any rugby game, it makes sense that Wales is dubbed “the land of song”. Hailing from rural Wales, singer-songwriter Mared is a glorious gem glittering amidst a music scene that sometimes makes you cringe. Deeply connected to her Welsh roots, the critically acclaimed award-winning artist takes the heart of Wales far beyond her UK borders reaching audiences on a global scale. This is my introduction to Mared, so join me as I delve into her discography.
Following her well-received 2024 single ‘pe bawn i’n rhydd’, Mared releases her new English lyric single ‘lately’. Shifting from a strong pop-influenced tone, ‘lately’ leans toward an intriguing blend of soul, pop, RnB and folk all bound with Mared’s unique vocals. The second track from her upcoming bilingual EP better late than never, set for release in May 2024, ‘lately’ can easily sit beside Adele, Duffy and Lizzy McAlpine; however, there is an indefinable ease to Mared surpassing the established names.
While the 2023 single ‘december blues’ hinted at a new direction for Mared sound-wise, ‘lately’ reinforces her distinctive soulful folk-pop as heard in 2022’s Something Worth Losing. Produced by Nate Williams, ‘lately’ implores simplicity in an acoustic melody, but the weaving of acoustic guitar with piano and steady drums brims with kaleidoscopic charm.
Warm, rich and bold, Mared draws you into a comfortable hug with a huge smile on her face. Interestingly, ‘lately’ might have the wholesome flair of a tender ballad but a profound juxtaposition of melancholy lyricism collides with the soothing exterior. A tribute to Joni Mitchell’s Laurel Canyon, the single is a nostalgic folk poem reflecting on the poignancy of “missed opportunities in love”.
While exploring the bridge between hopeless loneliness, isolation and desperate “what could have been”, Mared finds the silver lining of hidden hopefulness in ‘lately’. Sincere, sentimental, insightful, reflective and brutally honest, this song is the one you need when you’re crying over a lost love and need to feel understood instead of confused.
Find out more about Mared on her Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more pop tunes on The Other Side Reviews Pop playlist:
