Hailing from Cape Town is singer-songwriter and producer, Mars Baby as he recently released his well-received EP, “Luna”. The EP boasts some familiar names of the Johannesburg alternative scene, including Roho, Filah lah lah, lordkez and Shekinah. Famously known for the song “Salem’s Mantra” from his 2021 EP ‘Salem‘, Mars Baby returns with yet another poetic body of work. The EP Luna is a compelling masterpiece, sensual and alluring. Opening with the song “Show Me Love” and closing the seven-track offering with the song titled “No Love”, like a common thread tying the songs together.
A name on the rise, boasting songs with an atmosphere that is tempting and carelessly attractive, Mars Baby is crafting his way onto people’s playlists. With vast musical influence including blues and hip hop, Mars Baby falls well on the RnB and alternative pop line. The artist has given Luna, such a special personality through the occasional riff of his electric guitar and the melodic layering with his co-artists.
The EP opens with a song about the need for love and recognition, and continues to venture into themes of blind attraction, sobriety, and the recoil from love lost. He took to social media to give insight on one of the songs “Free Mind“, explaining that he had just came out of a relationship and, “… was struggling to figure out who I was without the other person …”, later describing it as one of his best songs. His vulnerability takes the listener through an all-consuming musical journey. “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” is a quote that holds true to Mars Baby’s lyricism in his choruses. A good chorus will have you nodding your head and soon enough humming along. Luna gives the listener that same familiarity.
I first heard some of the songs on the EP when Mars Baby graced the stage at ‘NarowBi‘. I was taken aback by the smooth slow jams that had me swaying along with the crowd. Much like the EP itself, the live performance was an all-consuming mix of riffs and melodies. One has to appreciate a good live performance because, from the audience’s side, it feels like being a part of a bigger whole- appreciating the diverse music scene of South Africa.
Listen to “Luna” by Mars Baby below:
