Marieme

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Senegalese American songstress Marieme

Interview conduct on May 1st, 2019

by Dan Locke

Senegalese American songstress Marieme is featured on the new Shaheed & Dixa track ‘Fi Moy Senegal.’ The song was written to commemorate Senegal’s Independence Day on April 4th. The idea for the song was born after Marieme returned home to perform with Akon this past December on national television: “I always knew I had to go back home, and I gained a new sense of freedom upon introducing myself to Senegal as a singer.” On meeting Akon: “I was able to meet Akon the night before the performance and after he said he had plans for me and so we’ll be working together very soon.”

‘Fi Moy Senegal’ is in three languages (English, French. Wolof) and Marieme said the fourth is the language of love. It definitely shines through in the video. The lyrics start “dem na fou neka, Gis na Lou neka, fenou dagoul fi, fi moy Senegal”. Translate to, “I’ve been everywhere, I’ve seen everything, nothing is better than here, this is Senegal.”

“Senegal to me is a powerful country, we are peaceful, stylish, community driven and gorgeous people, that’s what we wanted to capture with the song. Dixa and Shaheed are part of a Rap group in Senegal called Alien Zik and are well respected for their hip hop cyphers and their enlightening lyrics and flow.” explains Marieme.

Released originally on YouTube in her home country, it garnered so much attention it is now available in the states with plans to release the song on all streaming services in June, a perfect time for the summer tinged tune.

New to the scene, with just one EP (released last year) under her belt, Marieme has already shared the stage with notable players including African music legends Youssou N’dour and Baba Maal as well as Akon.

Marieme will have several announcements about new music and shows in the coming weeks

Dan Locke: What is popular music?

Marieme: What is hot at the moment.

What is an anti-diva?

An anti-diva to me means someone who is definitely a diva but with a purpose!

Who influenced you most?

Musically I have to say Lauryn Hill.

You were from war-torn Mauritania. You left there and headed to the United States. Where you wait many years for the rest of your family to appear. How was that time for you?

I left on the last plane with my parents to Senegal, the reason my parents had to leave, because they were Senegalese also.
I stayed ins Senegal without my parents from the age of 2-7 until I came to America to join them.

Do you still speak the Senegalese language?

Yes, I do. I recently released a song in my native tongue Wolof

You learned English from pop recording. Have you met any of these artists to tell them that they helped you to learn English?

I haven’t had the chance to. But I did see Mariah live which is incredible.

Tell me about your song “Love”?

All of my songs are about love!

How did you ever get your publishing deal?

I got my publishing deal 1 month after moving to LA in 2017 to pursue a career in music. I got the deal based off the first track I did 2 days after moving to LA called “Leave” from my EP last year. The track is about leaving but still believing in love and growing.

Since you came from a war-torn country have you thought about entertaining the troops?

I will sing for anyone helping to make this world and a better and safer place.

You spend some time in Buffalo. At the University of Buffalo. Did you try either the chicken wings on beef on weck?

I’ve had so many chicken wings I’m haunted by it. I never knew there were so many different flavors.

Do you think of yourself as a chameleonic like David Bowie?

Yes for sure, and that’s why I have difficulties sometimes because I’m told I have to find my musical style, but my style is me I’m the thread through everything I do, an I want to be able to wake up and do whatever I feel in the present moment.

Did you perform at the Tralf in Buffalo?

No.

Who did your hair design?

My friend Livio who I met in the jungle in Peru and is an amazing hair artist did my hair for me. We go back and forth and at the end come up with something we love. We’ve gone through 4 hairstyles together. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Let me asked you about some bands from Buffalo. Tell me something about the band if you know them?

Goo Goo Dolls -Their song iris connected with me and I love their style.
Brian McKnight-One of my all-time favorites. I was happy to find out he was from Buffalo, his song “one” used to make me cry all the time!
Ani DiFranco-I’ve heard of her
Rick James-Yes, King!

What are your feelings about Donald Trump signing the Music Modernization Act?

The new law—the first substantial copyright legislation to pass in decades—accomplishes three main changes:

• The use of music by streaming services will now (more about that in a minute) be paid for in a regularized royalty arrangement;
• Audio producers and engineers who participated in musical recordings will start to be paid when their recordings are played on online and satellite radio services;
• Digital services will have to pay for their use of songs recorded and released before 1972 (these recordings were not previously protected by copyright law).
There are also smaller sub-sections of the law which are of less general interest.

Much of the discussion has been around the pre-1972 artists and their recordings, e.g. Smokey Robinson provided testimony in support of the bill last year, and President Trump handed the pen he signed the bill with to Sam Moore (of Sam & Dave). This seems fair. But, for copyright mavens, another interesting aspect will be the section of the law that calls for setting up a new “Mechanical Licensing Collective” for the newly-authorized monies that will start flowing from digital uses. Setting up and operating a collection of this sort may be trickery than it seems.

I.e. The new Music Modernization Act (MMA) primarily proposes to set up a Collective Management Organization (CMO) for managing streaming royalties for musical recordings; i.e. the Spotify piece.

The second section (AMP) seeks to increase the royalty payments made to record producers and audio engineers. The third section (CLASSICS) would require royalties to be paid for streaming of pre-72 musical recordings.

Amazing, an artist needs to be protected!

Are you thinking about touring?

Yes for sure, I will definitely be on tour sometime around the fall.

Who would you like to open for?

Céline Dion, I heard she’s going on tour.

How do you see your band in 5 years?

In 5 years I would love to have reached as many people as possible, and impact as many lives as possible. And headlining my own tour all over the world.

Anything in closing?