Hey music lovers, have you ever heard a track that feels like it’s calling something ancient awake inside you while your body just wants to move? That’s exactly what hit me when I pressed play on Racines’ latest single “Meken Merteh.”
This Indo-Welsh × Italo-Algerian duo – Rokeya and Anissa – dropped “Meken Merteh” as the second extract from their debut album Arilos Mennar, out June 5 via Locomotiv Records. And let me tell you, it’s the kind of release that makes you stop scrolling and actually listen.
Right from the start, “Meken Merteh” pulses with that signature Tribal Afro House energy. Think driving electronics wrapped around living, breathing Mediterranean percussion and the distinctive sound of the gralla. It’s not just beats – it’s movement that feels rooted in something deeper. The production is earthy yet modern, blending archaic sonorities with contemporary electronic textures in a way that feels completely natural. You can hear the dialogue between tradition and now happening in real time.
Racines formed in 2022 when Rokeya (a dynamic London-born producer, performer, selector and curator with Indian, Italian, and Welsh heritage) connected with Anissa (a powerful singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist of Italian and Algerian heritage). Two worlds that seemed distant on paper suddenly created something ancestral, powerful, and eclectic. Their sound draws inspiration from the lands facing south – and you feel that warmth and depth in every layer of this track.
The duo describes “Meken Merteh” as continuing the inner journey started with previous single “Market Miracolo.” It’s an exploration of the courage to fall and rise again, of searching for a safe place that isn’t outside but within yourself. They call it a prayer of freedom and resistance – a hymn to everyone fighting daily to find their own light. Seeds, fire, roots. That’s the essence of Racines.
In today’s music scene, where so much electronic music can feel cold or disconnected, Racines stands out by weaving plural identities and imaginaries together. Their music doesn’t just sit in the Tribal Afro House genre – it expands it. The pulsating rhythms invite you to dance while the emotional undercurrent makes you reflect. It’s the perfect soundtrack for late-night drives, summer festivals, or those moments when you need to reconnect with something bigger than yourself.
As someone who listens to hundreds of submissions, what strikes me most is how intentional this feels. Rokeya and Anissa aren’t chasing trends – they’re creating a genuine fusion that honors their heritages while pushing forward. The result is music that feels both timeless and urgently of the moment.
If you’re into artists who blend world music influences with house and electronic like Acid Arab, or you love the spiritual side of tracks from artists like Nicola Cruz, Racines is going to resonate hard. “Meken Merteh” is hypnotic, grounding, and uplifting all at once.
The full album Arilos Mennar drops very soon, and if this single is any indication, we’re looking at one of the most exciting debut projects of the year in the world electronic space. Racines is proof that when tradition and modernity meet with real heart, something powerful is born.
What do you think of this fusion sound? Does it make you want to move or reflect – or both? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. I’d love to know which part of “Meken Merteh” hooked you the most.
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Stay tuned for more artist spotlights and fresh sounds. Until next time, keep discovering, keep listening, and keep supporting music that moves you.
