'Mercedes’ Is Sarah Klang’s Love Letter to Her Daughter and Life
Swedish artist Sarah Klang has had more than her fair share of musical success; after becoming a two-time Swedish Grammy Award winner and releasing three albums, Klang has released her long-awaited fourth project Mercedes, released October 20, 2023, under Nettwerk Music Group. Named after her daughter, Mercedes chronicles Klang’s transition to aging into her 30s, having a child, and handling the massive praise she’s received over the years. The ten-track collection is more than a combination of keyboard synth and piercing vocals, it’s an in-depth into the emotional spectrum of how we as people change.
Mercedes begins with “Magic Stone,” the first track immediately introducing Klang’s newfound motherhood. Seemingly talking about her daughter, Klang sings, “How could a sun be born out of a moon?/How could she shine when my color is blue?” highlighting a recurring theme of acknowledging her own past and comparing it to her child. Her airy, but strong voice carries through the piece as she establishes her new position in life.
Like songs made by fellow Swedish group ABBA, Klang’s third track “Halloween Costume” pairs devastating lyrics with a catchy, high-energy drum beat. The song covers themes of bullying and low self-esteem, the whole piece ending with a repetition of the words “mad woman.” This reiteration continues in the fourth song “Belly Shots” where the line “When I close my eyes, I can see you” echoes in the outro. Both tracks utilize high synth and guitar strums to not only highlight the darker lyrics but further enforce the duality of man.
“Mercedes,” the sixth song, covers Klang’s need to give her daughter a better life than the one she had. Exhibiting her vast vocal range by raising her voice in the chorus and singing deeper in the verses, Klang creates a multifaceted song rooted around her love for her child. “Mercedes, you can always run to me” she sings. Watch the music video here.
Photo from https://www.sarahklang.com/music
“Sunny Philadelphia” and “Hospital Window” differ from the album’s previous tracks with their richness. Both songs center around a deep piano ballad and cover the anxieties Klang felt while pregnant. “Hospital Window” describes the day her daughter was born, Klang expressing how she is “the greatest love I ever felt.” The slower pace emphasizes the rawness of the artist’s words and renews the feeling of growth.
Mercedes closes with “Worst Mom,” the song returning to the previous upbeat tunes in the earlier tracks. In a fit of vulnerability, the song encapsulates Klang’s worries about being a bad mother and even states the emotions she is going through. “Funny how they say time moves so fast/And I should be more grateful, make every second last/But man, I’m so tired, all I wanna do is sleep.”
Mercedes may maintain the same light, wispy voice that Sarah Klang has used in her previous three albums, but just one listen to the ten-track collection is enough to realize that it is unlike anything she’s ever released. With her guard down and realism pouring in, the album is more than a musical interpretation of her pregnancy, it’s a journey through her own becoming and an ultimate love letter to the life she now has.