Salty Licorice delivers a spellbinding performance with Metanoia (p.179), the standout track from her recently released debut EP The Sunrise Cried.
The single showcases an ambitious dive into alt-pop’s more experimental corners—effortlessly blending moody R&B vibes with hyperpop textures that feel both intimate and otherworldly.
What makes this track stand out is its conceptual foundation. The EP draws inspiration from the dancer, courtesan, and alleged spy Mata Hari, as portrayed in Paulo Coelho’s novel The Spy (2016), with each song bearing a page number from the book.
Metanoia (p.179) takes its title from a Greek term embodying profound contradiction—simultaneously representing transformation and the perilous cycle of repeating past errors.
The track opens with an almost chanted repetition of “Metanoia”, creating a hypnotic atmosphere that immediately draws listeners into its mystical world.
Salty Licorice’s vocals float ethereally over cinematic production that expertly weaves together Arabic influences with contemporary alt-pop sensibilities.
Her ethereal vocal presence and lyrical touch feel raw, literary and emotionally charged, particularly evident in vulnerable lines like “From the highest peak to the deepest sea / If I trust I trust in nobody”.
The production creates space for her voice to breathe whilst maintaining the track’s atmospheric density through layered instrumentation and subtle hyperpop elements.
The song’s structure mirrors its thematic content, building from intimate vulnerability to an emotional crescendo, much like the character arc of Mata Hari herself.
Arabic poetry woven into the bridge adds another layer of cultural richness, reflecting the artist’s heritage whilst maintaining universal appeal.
The Sunrise Cried EP is available now on all streaming platforms.
Salty Licorice – Metanoia (p.179) Lyrics
Metanoia, metanoia, metanoia, metanoia, metanoia, metanoia, metanoia, metanoia
Veils layered
one on top of the other
an empire
where the sun never rests
Stopped the bleeding
One gaze from a lover
Weightless in reverie
Til there’s nothing left
He looks to the sky
praying to the light of god
anything to ease his mind
but it comes back around
Chorus
From the highest peak to the deepest sea
If I trust I trust in nobody
In his eyes there are things he won’t reveal
if i trust it won’t come easily
Metanoia x9
arabic poem
Metanoia x 9
Dazzled by a rose
In the sunlight, I could see it grow
But it slowly wilted in the cold
I was too blinded
To see his deepest intentions
lost in another dimension
But I know truth will seek the light
And I,
see him waste my love until it dies
I sacrificed it all
he‘s praying for my fall
a medal on his wall
like it’s a prize
but it comes back around
Chorus
From the highest peak to the deepest sea
If I trust I trust in nobody
In his eyes there are things he won’t reveal
if i trust it won’t come easily
Metanoia x9
Outro