Marem Ladson - “Nothing Really Matters”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 4

Pairs Well With…Sevdaliza, FKA twigs, Carmen Ruiz

Bilingual Spanish artist Marem Ladson explores the spaciest sides of alternative R&B, covering her music in ghostly synth soundscapes and often purposely overpowering the main melodies of her recent tracks. It’s an evolved sound from Ladson’s self-titled debut, a record more engrained in roots rock, alt country, and breezy pop than where Ladson ended up with 2019 singles “Nothing Really Matters” and “Nothing Really Matters”. Granted, her earlier sound works fine and is a natural fit for Ladson’s rich yet melancholy tone, even getting grunge-heavy on songs like “Shades of Blue”. There are also some hints of ambience (“Born”, “Coming Home”) and classic Spanish/English R&B on “My Corazon”, a taste of where she ends up on highlight “Nothing Really Matters”. An echoing trip hop track also switching languages between verses, the 2019 single is bold and patient, a slinking, dreamy song that occupies a mysteriously unique space. “Fight” is even more out there, a spacious, whispered song performed with distance and a sonic sense of remorse. SXSW will be among Marem Ladson’s first North American shows, so hopefully she has gone all-in on this new sound for an entrancing live set. (Kevin McStravick)