alxndr london: iv merin
Francisco Espregueira
IV MERIN is a deep exploration, a deep introspective collection, a deep dive into eight tracks by one of the most original contemporary artists hailing from the UK: Alxndr London. Composed by eight songs, eight prayers - for strength, understanding, power - the project is an ode to the singer-songwriter’s heritage: with “Merin” translating to “four” in Yoruba and IV Merin being his fourth musical project.
As a forward thinking musician, London’s own sound is difficult to define. There’s a polished experimentation attitude, sitting somewhere amongst spiritual soul, r&b, electronic, with lyrics detailing politics, sex, culture, death, religion and Afrocentric themes. IV MERIN is a coming of age release, showcasing a high musical and creative maturity. One of the most enigmatic and intriguing artists to emerge from the UK soul scene, Alxndr London released IV MERIN yesterday, through Awal, alongside the official video of “Talking Drum” - again paying tribute to his Yoruba roots.
The song is inspired by gospel songs,” he explains. “I would hum and sing along to the hymns and African Spirituals. Talking drum is my prayer. I pray that the waves will receive and guide the diaspora back home. I pray that it is not too late for change. I pray that these strange, foreign lands are a thing of yesterday.”