“Wanderlust” is the latest single release from fifteen-year-old Russian pop music sensation Tanya Mezh. It’s possibly her most fully realized outing yet. The new single shows that the abundant skills evident since she began pursuing music at four years old are in full bloom 10+ years later. Her growth shows no signs of slowing down. She’s expanded her purview over time. Mezh is far more than just a singer. Her appearance in one high-profile Russian film and two television series primes her for more work in that vein, but I am confident music will always earn the bulk of her attention.
As well it should. It is where she shines brightest. She has almost twenty singles to her credit since her 2019 debut, and “Wanderlust” represents her highest achievement thus far. It incorporates everything she’s learned from her prior efforts while presenting it with maximum musicality and a strong degree of modern appeal. It has the right length, first-class production values, and an irrepressible groove well suited for Mezh’s remarkably mature vocal talents.
Her phrasing is stunning. Post-studio tinkering means no singer releases material that shows them in a bad light. However, you hear Mezh’s vocal for this song and never question its authenticity. It seems readily apparent that she could pull it off in a live setting with the same skill. She invests every ounce of her emotional resources into projecting each line and never takes a syllable off. There’s no coasting during this performance.
She has an unerring ear for zeroing in on the song’s core. The aforementioned percussion-fueled groove benefits from a fat bass pulse that gives “Wanderlust” its musical heart. Imagining this track pumping from powerful club speakers is a heady thought. However, her voice supplies the crowning touch by accentuating the physicality and verve of the bass. The balance between her singing and the instrumentation is near ideal.
It’s particularly so considering that the track doesn’t even reach the two-and-a-half-minute mark. You might assume at first impression that this means the song is possibly rushed. It isn’t. Instead, it ensures that this performance is bereft of wasted motion and never messes around connecting to its target audience. Mezh and her music are all business.
It’s helped the song reach #40 on the iTunes Pop chart. We can bet that it isn’t done rising. “Wanderlust” has the necessary attribute to generate that kind of momentum. She’s receiving the right promotion to push the song. However, promotion can accomplish only so much. A song has to stand on its own in the end. Tanya Mezh’s “Wanderlust” has the legs to travel even further than it already has.
It sets her up for even greater triumphs to come. I expect that when someone one day closes the book on Tanya Mezh’s career, “Wanderlust” will rank as one of the pivotal moments in her journey. I feel confident saying that it isn’t a moment she will soon forget, and nor will you. There’s plenty about “Wanderlust” that will keep you, and me, coming back for more.
Cleopatra Patel