Medhanit – Cold

Medhanit released her latest single Cold on May 5; a testament to her exploration of black joy and actively rejecting the notion of the black experience as one solely of suffering. Through her music and visuals, she aims to challenge the warped perception of blackness she internalized while growing up in a predominantly white community.

‘Cold comes from constant deliberation; when will people of colour be granted the space to be as multidimensional as any other? To be two, three, four things at once?’ – Medhanit

In Cold, Medhanit delves into the complexities of her identity, showcasing the duality of her experiences as a person of colour. She emphasises that her blackness is not limited to suffering, but rather it is a part of her that coexists with the joy and beauty in her life. Medhanit’s ability to express these experiences and emotions is a testament to her remarkable talent as an artist.

The track’s infectious Afropop rhythms and 808-heavy chorus provide a pulsating energy that will keep listeners
moving. The song came from a collaborative writing session between Medhanit, Jack McLaine (Sumner), and Allan McConnell (Close Counters). Medhanit recalls how the groove in the studio filled the room, and the lyrics seemed to fall effortlessly into the microphone. Jack produced the track and enlisted the work of world-class session musicians Matt Johnson (Jeff Buckley, St. Vincent) on drums and Ben Edgar (Angus & Julia Stone, Passenger) on guitar.

In the accompanying music video for Cold, Medhanit explores visual aspects of surrealism, high saturation, green-screen scapes, and comical scenes. The video portrays themes of escapism and joyful chaos. A world where dark skin is meant for sitting on daisies and dress-ups, where beauty is celebrated, and joy is unapologetic. The underwater scene in the video provides a moment of visual quiet that offers a break from the otherwise fast-paced and chaotic nature of the video.

Medhanit worked with a talented and diverse team of creatives to produce the music video with Jacob Collings co-directing and co-producing the video alongside Medhanit. Medhanit also enlisted the help of her brother Misgana Barratt and dear friend Selamawit Bennett in the cast, all of whom hail from Ethiopia.

Medhanit’s exploration of black joy, and the complexities of identity is a reflection of her lived experiences and a
testament to her growth as an artist. Her passion for music has been with her since childhood, as she spent much of her early life napping in her dad’s music store’s sound room. With her music, Medhanit seeks to evoke emotions that resonate with her listeners, from feelings of broken and divine love to jealousy, conflict, and peace. Her songs are an assertive blend of youthful production and introspective lyrics, influenced by her musical inspirations, Tkay Maidza and Mura Masa.

Medhanit has continued to captivate audiences with her performances at festivals such as Mona Foma, Party In The Paddock, Taste of Tasmania, Falls Festival, Junction Arts Festival, and Faux Mo. In 2022, Medhanit had the opportunity to join Australian legends Pnau as one of their live singers. Her performance on Holy Holy’s Triple J Like A Version cover of Post Malone & Swae Lee’s “Sunflower” is a testament to her growing influence in the music industry. With more singles in the works for 2023, Medhanit is on her way to becoming a household name.

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