Hailing from South London, new singer-songwriter / rapper Liam Mera Kai is turning heads with his blend of empowering, earnest offerings, evident in his new single ‘The View’ released this November. His approach to song craftsmanship belies his young age, weaving personal anecdotes with a fusion of alt hip-hop, neo-soul and alt R&B, occasionally layered with elements of UK dance.
He says: “I think everyone feels lost sometimes. Or perhaps concerned that they’re not where they thought they would be. A feeling deep down that you were meant for more, but you don’t know how to get there. So, you begin to wonder if you’ll ever get there. If you’ll ever see “The View” that you imagined. The track sees honest lyricism, combined with a purposefully rigid delivery, sit within a blend of lo-fi and alt hip-hop to truly capture this sombre, somewhat uncomfortable, realisation.”
Liam has always been a thinker. He sees it as more of an opportunity than a hinderance. Less of a bridge-to-cross, more of a path-to-follow.
Delivering thought-provoking lyricism across a blend of genres, the South London-based singer/songwriter/rapper/producer, born to a Filipino mother and English father, struggles to categorise his sound. He enjoys poetry and airplane food. He thinks the world is terrifyingly big, though he is not afraid of the vastness of his musical influences within that world. In his eyes, “Anything that makes you feel is an influence”. They span from the undeniable authenticity of Loyle Carner, the experimental work of Bakar, through to the harsh soulfulness of Paolo Nutini. From Jamiroquai to Nikita Gill. From Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn to Tame Impala.
Certain subjects run deep in the music. Expressions of love/admiration, overthinking and doubt, to name a few. However, whether he is addressing excitement, confusion or pain, Liam attempts to provide one major consistency: relatability. “The aim is to combine soundscape and lyricism to encourage feeling but also thought”. Often juxtaposing a mellow, laidback sound, with uncomfortable themes.
Although one common theme of his music is uncertainty, there is one certainty: Liam plans to evolve his music alongside his experiences, assembling a debut EP centred on addressing self-doubt. Aptly titled “it’s fine once you’re in”, he explores why we doubt ourselves, concluding that although the first leap is often the hardest, things usually fall into place. “So just dive in”.
The View / 10th November
