The South African indie artist meelu flips the script on mourning, delivering a drum and bass infused folk track that makes letting go feel like a celebration.
You know that specific feeling when you are standing in the middle of a crowded room, the bass is vibrating through the floorboards, and suddenly you are hit with a memory so sharp it knocks the wind out of you?
That is exactly the energy meelu bottles up in her latest single, “candlelight“. The South African born, London based indie artist has taken the heavy, suffocating weight of grief and somehow managed to make it move.
It is a track that grabs you by the collar from the very first second, demanding that you feel everything all at once while keeping your feet firmly planted on the dancefloor.
Written in Mykonos with the ocean as a backdrop, the song was born from the loss of her grandmother, affectionately known as “Oumi“. Her grandmother was more than family; she was a former Springbok archer and meelu’s childhood coach.
Losing someone who taught you how to aim for the target leaves you entirely unmoored. For a while, meelu could not figure out how to return to her normal routine. But then came the realization that the people we love do not want us to stop living when they leave. They want us to turn the volume up.
That realization is the beating heart of “candlelight”. Instead of leaning into the expected slow, acoustic sadness, meelu injects the track with a relentless, drum and bass inspired rhythm. It is a sonic choice that feels incredibly fresh, pulling from her time immersed in the UK underground scene.
The acoustic guitars are still there, providing that warm, intimate folk storytelling she is known for, but the percussion drives the song forward with an undeniable urgency.
It is the musical equivalent of the “sad banger” trend we have seen dominating TikTok lately, where artists pair devastating lyrics with upbeat production, allowing listeners to cry in the club.
The lyrics themselves are a masterclass in vulnerability. When she sings,
“Heaven is a place for you and I / Blue and white seas are your paradise / I’m not ready, I’m not ready to say goodbye / So I call your name and take you with me one more time,” it hits right in the chest.
It is the universal struggle of wanting to hold on while knowing you have to let go. But the bridge is where the magic really happens. The repeated line “figure it out, picture it now” acts like a voice note from a friend telling you to keep going.
It was inspired by her grandmother’s constant reassurance that everything would be okay, and you can feel that protective energy radiating through the speakers.
Produced by Raffer, with mixing by Dominic Peters and mastering by Streaky, the track is polished without losing its raw edge. The addition of celebratory horns and backing vocals gives the song a massive, anthemic feel.
It is easy to see why meelu has been drawing comparisons to artists like Lizzy McAlpine and Gracie Abrams, but the drum and bass influence sets her apart. She is carving out her own lane, proving that you do not have to choose between emotional depth and a killer beat.
“candlelight” is a reminder that mourning does not have to be quiet. It can be loud, it can be messy, and it can absolutely make you want to move.
meelu has created a track that honours the past while sprinting toward the future. If this is the direction her sound is heading, we should all be paying very close attention.
