MARIELA: The Underglow

The Underglow by Mariela is a bright, shimmery pop explosion. But don’t worry, this isn’t sugary, bubblegum pop. This is pop that’s been around the block and has memorized its way from the therapist’s office to the dance floor.

Rachel Hall, the woman behind Mariela, is a singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who is making a name for herself in San Diego’s independent music scene. On this 10-song debut album she is supported by producer Tommy E. Nixon, guitarist Luke Gibson, and a host of co-writers and other musicians, including drummer Jules Stewart, to create a record that glimmers and shines with celebratory notes and breakthroughs.

We get a front row seat to the hard work Hall has done. Mariela gives Hall an outlet to embrace her trans femme identity with joy, truth, and freedom through delightful, danceable earworms.

I’ve gathered my thoughts on a few select tracks:

“The Underglow” This is my favorite track. It captures that heady feeling of falling for someone but also being scared of the possibilities.

Take my hand, girl, make me a believer, ‘cause I don’t know what I don’t know
Take my hand, girl, tell me I’m a keeper, but heaven knows that I don’t know
if I’m ready for heaven yet

I love the looping refrain of “if I’m ready” toward the last minute.

“Moriah” This song explores the tumultuous reckoning that Hall experiences as she comes to terms with her queer identity within the environment of a religious family. It’s told with a Biblical nod to the story of Abraham agreeing to sacrifice his son, Isaac, to God on Mt. Moriah. Hall ponders:

You said I was knit together in my mother’s womb
Fearfully and wonderfully
But if that’s true
Why can’t you just love me
For the girl I am?
Because it’s who I am
To the Great I am

Hall refuses to succumb to apologies or being bullied into hiding, clearly and defiantly summarizing, “There’s no coming back from Moriah.” All of this is set to a danceable beat with that tasty title hook makes it a winner.

“Therapist Said” This is the album’s one ballad, and it cuts to the core. The instrumentation is sparse and highlights Hall’s poignant vocals and Lily Wecks’ gorgeous backing vocals. The lyrics are moving, again exploring Hall’s journey:

Maybe if I tried her on
then I could take her off
but the real me
made your stomach turn
it’s a lesson that I can’t unlearn

Plus, I’m a sucker for a song that names places to offer some context and round out the atmosphere (Austin, Memphis, Little Rock). Beautiful.

“Dust” A groovy, drifting song that gives Fleetwood Mac vibes. I was hooked from the first couple lines:

We were too young to settle down
we slept in blankets on the ground

“The Girls of Summer” Hall enlisted help from the undeniably amazing Lindsay White to reimagine the classic Don Henley tune with a playful queer twist. This interpolation stands up to the original with its own affirming energy for love in all forms.

“Don’t Fence Me In” This is a no-doubt anthem about claiming who you are and not letting anyone tell you differently. I can just hear the masses singing loud and proud: DON’T FENCE ME IN!

Add this great collection to your playlists right away. You’ll have these tunes rolling around in your head for days on end and you won’t want them to stop.