MEROPE share single "Lopšinė" featuring Bill Frisell + live video. New album 'Vėjula' out Nov 5 on STROOM

MEROPE - Share new single "Lopšinė" - Both studio version and live video online now - New album ‘Vėjula’ out November 5th on STROOM - Tour dates include Le Guess Who?

Merope by Tina Herbots  Today Merope share a new single from their forthcoming album ‘Vėjula’, which is set for release on November 5th via STROOM. Following previously shared tracks “Aglala”, “Koumu Lil” and most recently “Namopi” - a collaboration with Laraaji and Shahzad Ismaily - today they share the fragile beauty of new single "Lopšinė". Featuring guitar contributions from world renowned Jazz guitarist, Bill Frisell, the track is based on an old Lithuanian lullaby, and Frisell's animated riffs dance between Cools' lulling acoustic guitar phrases and Jurgelevičiūtė's haunting vocals. Today, they share both the studio version of the track, and a beautiful stripped back live performance, recorded in Antwerp this summer. Listen to "Lopšinė": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00EsLaModq0 "Lopšinė" live video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNpV2OI6fUE There's a sense of spontaneity and playfulness hanging in the air around Merope's fifth album that's palpable from the very beginning. The duo of Lithuanian singer and kanklės player Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė and guitarist/producer Bert Cools, Merope are kissed by the winds of change on 'Vėjula', a self-styled musical rebirth that confidently fosters their ongoing narrative. It's their most experimental and open-minded full-length to date, spreading its arms to embrace collaborations with like-minded artists Shahzad Ismaily, Laraaji and Bill Frisell. And while 'Vėjula' still roots itself in Lithuanian folk forms, it sprouts out spiritedly from that point into unfamiliar landscapes, muddling ancient themes with contemporary philosophies, concepts and technologies.   Merope emerged over a decade ago in 2012, hitting their stride in 2018 when they released the nocturnal 'Naktės'. Since then, they've developed a considerable reputation for their whimsical fusion of folk and ambient music; their last album, 'Salos', released on Belgium's STROOM imprint and recorded with Vilnius-based chamber choir Juana Muzika and conductor Vaclovas Augustinas, received universal acclaim, described by Boomkat as "effortlessly enchanting" and supported by none other than Björk. 'Vėjula' moves their music forward by examining its beating heart, weaving delicate instrumental sequences and ethereal vocals into a rich tapestry of subtle synth work, evocative field recordings and enigmatic processes. Dazzlingly modest, the album strips down Merope to their essence, rediscovering the joy in creation and collaboration.   'Vėjula' is an album that reaches into the unknown without losing its tight grip on the past. Merope are in a new creative phase of their career, and they've never sounded quite so universal, or so vital.   'Vėjula' track list: 1 Koumu Lil - stream 2 Namopi feat. Laraaji and Shahzad Ismaily stream 3 Lopšinė stream 4 Vija 5 Spindulė 6 Aglala - stream 7 O Underhill feat. Shahzad Ismaily 8 Rana Merope live dates: 08/11 - Le Guess Who? - Utrecht, NL  20/11 - Viernulvier (Ruiskamer) - Gent (double bill with Alex Zhang Hungtai)  23/11 - Explore The North - Leeuwarden, NL 28/11 - BRAND! - Mechelen, BE 29/11 - Het Bos - Antwerpen 01/12 - Bozar - Brussel 'Vėjula’ album artwork: Links: https://meropemusic.com/ https://www.instagram.com/meropemusic/ https://stroomtv.bandcamp.com/