Following the success of her debut single “Slowburner”, which reached the Top 5 on the SA Indie Chart, South African-born indie artist Meelu returns with her second release, “hi ‘love’.” The track is a stripped-back, emotionally raw indie-folk song that explores the fragile space between devotion and invisibility.
Composed on a rainy day in Berlin, “hi ‘love'” captures the intimate feelings of being unseen within someone else’s world. Meelu describes the song as “a song for the version of you that keeps trying, even when someone won’t meet you halfway.”
With ambient textures, layered harmonies, and restrained acoustic production, the track balances intimacy with frustration, drawing comparisons to the quiet intensity of Sharon Van Etten, Big Thief, and Phoebe Bridgers.
A Raw, Sun-Kissed Music Video
Released alongside the single, the music video continues Meelu’s DIY, deeply personal aesthetic. Shot by creator Ruben Barkhuizen during a spontaneous mini road trip, the video features just the two of them, with Meelu experimenting with playful, simple looks. The result is raw, sun-kissed, and unfiltered – a visual echo of the song’s emotional warmth.
Check out the music video below:
“hi ‘love'” marks a major milestone in Meelu’s career, being featured in the new German feature film Mädchen Mädchen, currently in cinemas and streaming on Netflix Germany. This represents her first international sync placement, expanding her music’s reach beyond South Africa.
You can stream/download the track on Spotify an all other streaming platforms.
Meelu’s Live Performance Highlights
Despite only a year into her project, Meelu has already built an impressive live résumé, performing at major festivals and sharing stages with leading international acts:
- Y Not Festival (UK)
- Splashy Fen Festival (South Africa)
- The Great Escape Showcase Festival (UK)
- Tramlines Festival (UK)
- Support for GoodLuck, Jeremy Loops, and Casey Lowry (world tour)
- Sold-out debut headline show in London
Vulnerability Meets Intention
“hi ‘love'” continues a year of releases that blend vulnerability with intention, inviting listeners to let their emotions move freely rather than feel trapped by them. Meelu’s music reaffirms her growing presence as a compelling voice in the indie-folk scene.
Watch this space for updates in the Music Videos category on SA Music Zone.
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