Get ready for a soulful session on Local Music Somewhere as host Greazy Keyz welcomes singer/songwriter Mariah van Kleef.
Known for her raw lyrics and captivating melodies, Mariah shares her journey as an independent artist, revealing the inspiration behind her music and the challenges of navigating today’s industry.
What You’ll Discover:
♦ Mariah’s creative process and songwriting inspirations
♦ Her experience as an indie artist and how she connects with her audience
♦ A special live performance that showcases her signature sound
About Me – Mariah van Kleef
Mariah van Kleef’s upbringing was eclectic for a one stoplight, early 90’s farm town in South Carolina. She was never baptized – her parents insisting that one’s spirituality should be “a personal decision”. She was then privately introduced to a roughly pantheistic blend of spiritual practices and mythologies from around the world. Her parents immigrated from the Netherlands; her mother bestowing a rich, Indonesian ancestry and passing on that experience reverently. Van Kleef’s current range of releases reflect this mix, shapeshifting between tender folk, Bossa Nova, surrealist R&B, nordic ambience, and a little middle eastern groove.
She is currently working in many directions with several mediums. Without a doubt, her muse continues to beckon her into various directions…whispering a dare to birth every depth of her experience into the grasp of this world.
Mariah van Kleef Brings a Mythic Voice to Modern Songwriting
On this episode of Local Music Somewhere, host Greazy Keyz sits down with Charlotte-based singer-songwriter Mariah van Kleef, whose artistic journey spans from the backwoods of South Carolina to the stages of UNC Charlotte—and soon, Europe. With a voice that bridges ancient mythology and future sonics, Van Kleef brings a rare depth to every note and story she shares.
Raised in a one-stoplight farm town in early ’90s York, SC, Mariah’s upbringing was anything but ordinary. Her Dutch-Indonesian roots mixed with a spiritual education grounded in pantheistic traditions gave her a unique lens on the world. Her parents’ choice not to baptize her, insisting instead that “spirituality should be a personal decision,” laid the groundwork for the independent spirit that fuels her art today.
By age 19, she landed her first weekly gig at The Garden Café, where she held down three-hour sets—a feat that helped build her stamina and confidence in a male-dominated live music scene. Along the way, she dodged aggressive farm animals, learned resilience, and grew into a performer shaped by both grit and grace.
Though she quietly released her debut music in 2016, Mariah admits it was more of a soft launch, a test of vulnerability in a world she wasn’t quite ready to face. Over the years, her sound has evolved from acoustic folk to an eclectic fusion—blending surrealist R&B, Bossa Nova, Nordic ambience, Middle Eastern grooves, and experimental electronic flourishes. She cites artists like Feist and José González as early influences, but her work now bears the unmistakable signature of someone chasing their own muse, wherever it dares lead.
From Self-Taught Engineer to Collaborative Visionary
A self-taught producer who once learned Pro Tools and GarageBand to self-engineer her music, van Kleef now thrives on collaboration. Her current band includes Jason Klein, J. Michael Mavette, and Corey Dudley on upright bass. Under the creative production of Justin Aswell, she is exploring sounds that feel simultaneously ancient and futuristic—layers of meaning that match the weight of her lyrical narratives.
One of the most powerful themes running through Mariah’s work is identity and womanhood. Diagnosed with MRKH syndrome, a rare condition that causes infertility, she uses her music and visual art to explore and deconstruct patriarchal myths around femininity. Her upcoming multimedia project, Magnum Opus, will be the culmination of years of personal healing and creative risk.
A Multimedia Experience: Magnum Opus
Magnum Opus is more than an album—it’s a full artistic ecosystem. The launch begins April 17 at UNC Charlotte’s Pop Martin Student Gallery, where her songs and stories will be interpreted through student-created book art and performance. The show incorporates live music, visual art, and dance, blending academia and performance in a truly immersive way. Mariah is working closely with creative collaborator Victoria Byers, who has helped bring the interdisciplinary vision to life.
Following the gallery show, Mariah plans to release a full-length album, an original fairy tale book, an audiobook, and a vinyl edition in summer 2026 to coincide with a European tour that will include stops in Spain, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The work dives deep into mythologies of sirens and mermaids—once feared goddesses and fertility demons now sanitized by pop culture—reclaiming their power and symbolism through sound and story.
Rooted in Story, Rising Toward Sound
Mariah also reminisces about her first guitar—an enchanted instrument she picked out at age 10—and the joy of finding magic in thrift stores, music, and spontaneous creativity. She closes the episode with a haunting acoustic performance of “Sirens Raid,” the latest installment in her In Fauna series, and a bold signal of what’s to come.
As she says in the episode: “This is only the beginning.”
And we believe her.
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