Daniel Merriweather’s ‘Rain’ is so structurally and vocally moving that it deserves a spot on this year’s most mesmerizing tunes.

The Australian singer-songwriter pays homage to old-school R&B tunes as well as the soulful power of gospel sounds, both of which are evident from the very first note. Merriweather’s resonant, powerful vocals are complemented by the backing chorus, who keep on dipping in and out of the composition. The most significant aspect about this tune is how it does not stick to any fixed form or structure — Merriweather’s songwriting is put on the pedestal and is given enough space to express and reflect as it wishes. So just as the song takes off with an upbeat, communal rhythm resembling that of church choruses, it slows down immediately and rather abruptly following the chorus. 

During the verses, the melody essentially functions as a soft ballad, featuring nothing but Merriweather’s feathery, supple voice in all its vulnerabilities. The sudden change in pace is jarring at first, but considering the tough subjects being tackled, it’s quite apt when you think about it. Merriweather’s lyrics touch upon prison conditions and modern capitalism but the singer communicates his message in just a few lines. The crux of the tune is delivered through enchanting vocal riffs and syncopated arrangement of the classic church instruments we’re all familiar with: organ, piano, tambourine. 

Upon closer examination of the lyrics, the religious stylings are unmissable; they’re evident from the genre to the lyrics, but Merriweather makes sure that he doesn’t hammer down the influences. He keeps it light and steady so that the listeners are given the space to truly savour the complexity of the sound. The singer has been active in the music scene for close to eighteen years now but his last single ‘Everything I Need’ was his first single in close to ten years. He’s subsequently announced album to go with the brand-new singles, although a release date hasn’t been announced yet. 

Safe to say that his latest song ‘Rain’ will go down as yet another solid effort from the longtime blues and jazz enthusiast. He’s already garnered a warm reception to his comeback album, with a couple of sold-out shows in England, so it can only be expected that he is going to touch some hearts with his latest album. 

 Singer-songwriter     R&B 

Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.