With influences such as Julie London and Patsy Cline to The Moonglows, Curtis Mayfield and Brook Benton, singer/songwriter Mara Hruby personifies the sound and soul of an alternative jazz legend. Her debut EP released in 2010 conceptually titled From Her Eyes featured Hruby soulfully covering classics originally performed by men. Ranging from the likes of Jamiroquai, Bob Marley, D’Angelo and Mos Def, she would reinterpret their work while adding her own feminine touch. Marking over 80K+ downloads, the project propelled Hruby into her own lane, scoring thousands of loyal fans and supporters. A captivating performer, Hruby has notably sold out shows at Yoshi’s Oakland and Blue Note Jazz Club in NYC. She has also performed in venues stretching from Philadelphia, DC, to Grammy Weekend (2012 & 2016) in Los Angeles, the 28th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival (2015), The Clift Hotel’s Centennial Celebration (2015) in San Francisco and the 75th Annual Stern Grove Festival in San Francisco (2012).
Her sophomore EP Archaic Rapture was released in 2014 and received a nod of approval from Billboard, who premiered the EP's lead single “Cry Me A River” by way of a live studio performance. Filled with her power, emotion and depth shine vividly, the video gives the audience a small glimpse into the full EP. Archaic Rapture may be briefly defined by her heartbreak, but it bleeds deeper down into the details. The EP overflows with pure emotion not to convey weakness, but to show strength in being honest with oneself. Within the first week of its release Archaic Rapture reached the coveted #1 spot on iTunes Jazz charts.
You will come to understand fairly quickly that Ms. Hruby exudes pure creative power and sentimental care through her body of work. It’s only a matter of time before her art receives international acclaim on a large scale.
Set Me Free
Mara Hruby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My heart was new to silken words
And sensuality
Giving all I have to give,
Guided by your narrative
So urgent temper provocative
It set me free
The one of things you didn't care
Until I found that you were a liar
Too late for my heart to be ware
I've done all that you want me to
Now set me free
I've learn your lesson very well
And I was plain to me
Love for you is just a trade,
Moments of pleasure?
A moment's gone, the price is paid
Now set me free
Confusing love of lust and desire
The one of things you didn't care
Until I found that you were a liar
Too late for my heart to be ware
I've done all that you want me to
Now set me free
I've learn your lesson very well
And I was plain to me
Love for you is just a trade,
Moments of pleasure?
A moment's gone, the price is paid
Now set me free
A moment's gone, the price is paid
Now set me free
In Mara Hruby's song "Set Me Free," the singer is reflecting on a past relationship that was meant to be freeing but ultimately turned out to be suffocating. The song begins with the promise of love setting her free, which was a new and exciting concept for her. She trusted her partner, and their passion and urgency in their relationship seemed to be leading her down a path of self-discovery. However, as time passed, the singer realized that her partner was only interested in fulfilling their own desires and didn't care about the deeper emotional connection that she craved.
The second half of the song is a plea for the singer's partner to let her go. She has learned the valuable lesson that love cannot be bought or traded, and that her own pleasure and happiness should also be taken into account in a relationship. The lyrics "A moment's gone, the price is paid, now set me free" highlight the regret that she feels for investing so much into the relationship and the knowledge that she deserves so much more.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the pain of a toxic relationship, but also a recognition of the growth and strength that comes from recognizing one's own worth and demanding to be treated with respect.
Line by Line Meaning
When first we meet you said our love would set me free
At the beginning of our relationship, you promised that our love would be liberating for me
My heart was new to silken words
I was inexperienced in being charmed with seductive language
And sensuality
And physical pleasure
Giving all I have to give,
I gave you everything I had
Guided by your narrative
I was led by your version of events
So urgent temper provocative
Your behavior was aggressively urgent and stimulating
It set me free
It allowed me to be liberated in the moment, but ultimately led to my feeling trapped and seeking freedom
Confusing love of lust and desire
Our relationship was a mixture of love, sexual attraction, and wanting
The one of things you didn't care
You did not prioritize communication or emotional connection in our relationship
Until I found that you were a liar
Until I discovered that you were dishonest with me
Too late for my heart to be ware
It was too late for me to protect my heart from the emotional damage you caused
I've done all that you want me to
I have fulfilled all of your desires and expectations
Now set me free
I am requesting that you release me from this relationship
I've learn your lesson very well
I have learned from the way you treated me
And I was plain to me
It became clear to me
Love for you is just a trade,
Your definition of love is transactional
Moments of pleasure?
Is temporary enjoyment all that you seek?
A moment's gone, the price is paid
The temporary happiness you offer is fleeting, and comes at a cost
Now set me free
I am still asking for my freedom
Contributed by Kayla I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.