Merittocracy is the music project of Zimbabwe-born, Scotland-based producer Mani Shoniwa. In 2024, he launched the project to highlight house and electronic music, building on his earlier work with YOYOHONEY, an electro-soul project created alongside vocalist Anita Jarrett. Already an experienced songwriter, producer, and bassist, he has collaborated with Bootsy Collins, DJ Pierre, and Tony Humphries. Now, he returns with his third single under this project, Desire, a reworked track with Jocelyn Brown, released on September 26, 2025 via Black Sugar Music.
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The song begins with a strong, dreamy electronic introduction that immediately draws you in. Then the lyric drops: “celebrate this night with me, although it’s not the last time.” At once, the tone is set. The production feels alive, cinematic, and ready for the floor.
Picture this: someone pulls you onto the dance floor, lipsyncing the lyrics without breaking eye contact. That intensity mirrors the music’s energy. Then comes the declaration: “There is a fire inside of me.” The beat hits, pumping up the disco atmosphere.
As the track continues, the repetition of “There is a fire inside of me” becomes central. The words loop while the production drives forward, never losing tension. Moreover, the track sustains its momentum from start to finish. It is tight, precise, and unrelenting.
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Furthermore, the sound recalls the moment when you stand outside a club and hear the music thundering inside—you know the night ahead is going to be unforgettable. In this sense, Desire succeeds both as a visceral club anthem and as a piece of electronic craft.
Jocelyn Brown, whose voice has carried classics like Someone Else’s Guy, delivers her signature command, proving her voice remains a force. With Desire, Merittocracy’s vision threads the past into the present while driving it forward.
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Figuring out my path while actively plotting ten others. Serious about my dreams with somewhat chaotic ambition. Will do anything for cats.
