Merche

Merche is a best-selling pop singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from Spain. She records her own material almost exclusively, composed in a variety of styles from pop and dance to R&B and soft rock; she regularly arranges her songs with traditional Andalusian rhythms. She has been an Iberian cultural mainstay since 2001, when, as "Luna," she performed the original song "No Me Pidas Más Amor," placing sixth in the Spanish final for the annual Eurovision Song Contest. Merche earned a recording contract with the Vale/Universal label based not only on the quality of the song, but on the excitement generated by the audience for her performance. Since releasing her debut album, Mi Sueño, in 2002, six of Merche's albums have been certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum. Her singles and videos consistently place in the upper rungs of radio and digital charts. After releasing 2017's De Otra Manera, she spent nearly two years touring Spain and Latin America. Born Mercedes Trujillo Callealta in Cadiz, her father, the late Pedro Trujillo Ramos, was a professional singer in Carnavales de Cadiz. She was presented with the gift of a guitar at age six. Throughout childhood she acted and sang in school plays. After graduating from university, she became a music teacher, all the while pursuing a vocation as a singer and songwriter. She succeeded as a composer before her performance breakthrough, penning songs for a variety of artists. After competing as "Luna" in the Spanish trials for the Eurovision Song Contest and finishing in the Top Ten, she signed a recording contract as Merche with Vale. The song she performed, "No Me Pidas Más Amor," appeared on Mi Sueño, her 2002 debut long-player. The track became a national hit; it was chosen as the TV theme song for Spain's Big Brother franchise and again as the theme for the long-running Andalusian series Arrayán. Mi Sueño was eventually certified platinum. After touring she re-entered the studio and issued Auténtica in 2004. Recorded in Stockholm and the Virgin Islands, it earned platinum certification due to four charting singles, including the topical "Abre Tu Mente," an anthem of empowerment and hope for battered women. Another single, "Distancia," a dance track, was Merche's first to employ Andalusian rhythms. Auténtica was also certified platinum and its tour spawned the release of a special edition of the album packaged with a concert DVD. Necesito Libertad, her third album, appeared in 2005. Recorded at Maxximusic Studios in Miami and produced by Marcello Azecedo (Paulina Rubio, Marc Anthony) its ten songs were all originals. Its first single, “Eras Tú," drove the album to platinum status within three months. During her 100-city Spanish tour, she performed with Soraya at the Santiago Bernabeu football stadium during halftime at the Copa del Rey final match. Subsequently, the album achieved double-platinum certification. After taking some time off, Merche entered the studio with producer Carlos Jean. Recording in Cadiz and Madrid, the pair decided to de-emphasize electronic music and instead undertake a more organic approach to pop. The strategy worked: released in December of 2007, Cal y Arena landed at number five on Spain's Top 100; it was certified gold during its first week of release. After successful tours of Spain, Latin America, and the United States, Cal y Arena earned triple-platinum status. Seeking a new sound, Merche went to Los Angeles, California to collaborate with all-star producer Sebastian Krys (Shakira, Ricky Martin, Alejandro Sanz, and dozens of others). Issued in 2010, the gold-certified Acordes de Mi Diario crisscrossed rock, pop, and soul lines, with arrangements that made use of urban and Andalusian rhythms. The single "Si Te Marchas" entered the chart at number one and spent 32 weeks on the list, earning Merche several awards in Spain and ultimately propelling her to a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Album. She performed during the ceremony as well. The pair re-teamed in Miami and Los Angeles to record 2012's Un Mundo de Colores. Led by its poignant single "Luna," which paid tribute to single mothers, the album earned another gold certification and spent 23 weeks on Spain's pop charts. Her tour took her across Spain and Latin America playing sold-out houses. Merche left Vale/Universal for Sony. Quiero Contarte, her label debut, was produced by Miguel Ángel Collado (Pablo Alborán, Sergio Dalma). From sweeping ballads to cumbias to dance tunes, the album offered a plethora of styles under the banner of Spanish pop. It peaked at number five. It was certified gold based on streaming and airplay success. De Otro Manera followed in 2017. Containing romantic ballads, upbeat danceable songs, and folk-tinged rhythms and melodies, the singles "Pasajeros" and "Noche de San Juan" (featuring flamenco singer Pitingo) both pushed inside the Top Ten. The video from third single "Te Lo Deserve" registered five million views on You Tube. The album debuted at the top of all digital platforms and peaked at number six on physical charts. Merche kicked off her tour in a Madrid concert hall and played across her native country and Latin America. In late September of 2019, Merche launched a social media blitz for the single "Lo Que Me dé La Gana" as a preview to her 2020 full-length. ~ Thom Jurek