One of our favorites from up North, Toronto-based songstress Ayah Merna is back on the DopeHouse pages with the release of her brand new album, The Calling.
Backed by the production talents of Makai Black and A Tribe Called Quest’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad, the 10-track offering is equal parts redemption and testimony, chronicling a young woman’s journey to self love, acceptance, and strength.
“A couple years ago, I woke up, a single woman in her mid 20’s, after being in a very long, young, and reckless relationship with someone who was very much a reflection of myself: emotionally unavailable. I’m sure we loved the very best way that we knew how.
I moved around a lot as a child. It was a great experience, enriching for my soul and mind. Cultures, sounds, music, people…Beautiful.
However, it also left me with a kind of separation anxiety. It’s human nature to want to hold on to things: materials, people, ideas, what people think of us, how we view ourselves. We’re also so scared of dying, that we hold on to life, even if it’s a life we’d rather change. Society has us so desensitized and distracted. I’m not sure we know how to listen to ourselves, to really feel, connect, live in our moments, evolve with nature, hear our call, to love.
The Calling is about all of these things. I collaborated with amazing producers, Makai Black and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, who created the most luscious, rich musical masterpieces so that I could tell my story.
What I want to leave you with, is a question I asked myself when I heard the call: “if not me, then who?”
I hope you love this as much as I do.” – Merna
Stream The Calling below and head to iTunes for a download.
RELATED: Merna – Better Run (Video)
