Menajerie – First Sunday (2024)
Known for their energetic, enthusiastic and engaging performances, Australian group Menajerie are a “neo-soul making, no shit taking, gonna get your booty shaking” force of nature. A six-piece collective from the Meanjin/Brisbane area, Andrew Fincher (guitar), Lee Brackenborough (bass) and Beau Jorgensen (drums) are led by powerhouse vocalists Gracie Mack, Rosa Mack and Mel Galletly. Already established artists with various bands, the individuals bring unique flairs of their own into a fiery blend of neo-soul meets funk. Menajerie released their debut single ‘Time’ in 2021, or at least according to Spotify, and today we take a gander at their new single ‘First Sunday’.
On the heels of their critically acclaimed single ‘Melt’, ‘First Sunday’ is a tantalising rush of vintage funk and soul drawn to the 21st century. Not necessarily more upbeat than ‘Melt’, there is a heavier toe-tapping vibe to ‘First Sunday’ presenting an edgier fire to the track. Interestingly, ‘First Sunday’ has a profound and vulnerable theme exploring a person’s “moving through grief and mourning the loss of family” despite the laidback tones, while a soul-stirring kaleidoscopic hug delves into further complexities. Gracie Mack explains:
“’First Sunday’ is a song of release and catharsis from the complex world of grief… The song ends by turning inwardly reflective, contemplating the effect of grief on the soul.”
A rhythmic blend of piano, slick guitars, a bold bass and dynamic drums, ‘First Sunday’ is an intricate arrangement but with simplicity grasping at its intricacies. Warm and fuzzy, the song has comfort with powerful vocals leading the way through a funk forest; however, just as there is confidence and strength, a hit of fragility, vulnerability and melancholy shimmers in the rich execution. I find this particularly intriguing as it encapsulates the process of grief, as well as offering insight into a person’s raw emotions.
Sincere, sentimental and delicate, ‘First Sunday’ is a soothing yet provocative look at human fragility and resilience.
Find out more about Menajerie on their official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
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