Meryem Saci Unites Her Genre-Bending Talents on Brand New EP Game of Life
Multi-hyphenate Algerian-Canadian R&B-Soul singer-songwriter Meryem Saci has recently released her first Hip-Hop focused project, Game of Life.
Globally recognized as a soaring R&B-Soul vocalist, remarkable Hip-Hop artist, and skilled lyricist, Meryem Saci’s dazzling range of artistic talents has captivated audiences worldwide. Saci’s stunning and highly creative artistic proficiency merges a wide range of genres into her unique sound, seamlessly weaving elements of R&B, Soul, Gospel, Hip-Hop, and Afro-Arabian elements into her music. Her socially focused, cleverly written lyrics stand out alongside her comprehensive rhythms and have paved the way for her to become one of the leading multi-hyphenate artists in Canada today.
Arriving in Canada as an Algerian refugee during the devastating civil war known as the Black Decade, the young teenager found solace and inspiration in Hip-Hop, which “spoke about realities that are extremely difficult, controversial, and sad, but it made it almost sound like a celebration.” As a member of the global supergroup Nomadic Massive, Saci has opened for the likes of Public Enemy, Mos Def, and Busta Rhymes. After launching her solo career, works from Saci’s debut EP and album have been featured in some of
the biggest fashion advertisements in Canada, with multiple placements in Lululemon and Dynamite clothing campaigns. Her music has appeared on TV shows and in films nationwide, and her worldwide tours have helped increase her steadily growing fanbase.
Having incorporated elements of Hip-Hop into her prior releases, Saci’s sophomore EP marks her first project solely focused on her talents within the genre. Teaming up with Montreal producer Nazbrok Jaynaz to help bring her artistic vision to life, Saci challenged herself to write lyrics to a variety of Hip-Hop styles, ranging from Boom Rap, Drill, Trap, and Afro-Pop. Weaving in musical elements from across the globe, Saci expertly marries her roots from East to West, leaving her signature touch on the biggest genre in music today.
Meryem Saci’s “Game of Life” is an exploration of self-realization and societal issues, covering concepts of love, money, and values – a musical collection of the group of pieces that unlock the Game of Life. With a stunning visual component for multiple singles from the EP, Saci’s already out-of-this-world creativity expands to include both visual storytelling and fashion.
Listen to Game of Life below and learn more about Meryem Saci via our Five Questions With segment.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Meryem Saci. I am originally from Algeria now based in Montreal since my teenage years.
I am an independent artist, singer, songwriter, and Emcee. I love writing music, improvising, shooting music videos, and performing live shows.
Tell us a bit about your most recent release.
My most recent release is an EP of 6 songs titled Game of Life. This is my sophomore EP, where I showcase my passion for HipHop mixing RnB with Drill, Trap, and BoomBap, or BoomTrap as my producer Nazbrok Jaynaz likes to call it. We also sprinkled some Afro-Caribbean flavour with the last song “Velvet Sunset.” We all play a game of life without knowing all the rules and without a ‘how to’ guide of how to play. We seem to have universal laws that apply regardless of beliefs, but for the rest, it seems to me that we have to come up with our own rules and perspectives and refine our own playbook as we grow. This came from feelings of frustration of not knowing what to do or how to do it sometimes, feeling stuck in patterns that were not serving me well, reevaluating priorities, and paying better attention to my inner world. This was the inspiration for the titles and the topics from money to love to self-inquiry, accountability, and growth.
Where do you tend to pull inspiration from when writing?
I draw my inspiration from personal lived experiences, observing emotions, my own and that of surrounding, societal issues and identity, deep conversations, the sea, sunsets, heartbreaks, disappointments, grace, and my spiritual quest. Otherwise, I simply am inspired by the music playing in the background or dope beats from amazing producers.
Do you have any upcoming shows or festivals you want to tell us about?
I have a few shows coming up. I will be performing in the US this week, and I’ll be back for my first Montreal performance of the EP on May 6th.
What’s your goal for 2023?
My goal is to find a booker and perform at different venues and festivals, hoping to travel and bring my music everywhere I can! I will release another album this summer on vinyl with French legend Akhenaton. I hope to continue creating music that resonates and impacts people’s hearts and ears. I aim to have a better presence online with fun content and grow my audience to find my tribe across the planet.
Connect with Meryem Saci:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok