Alt-pop artist merci, mercy shares third EP, ‘Like An Orchid.’

Alt-pop artist MERCI, MERCY shares her third EP, ‘Like An Orchid’, out now via Liberation Records. With this new body of work she delivers sparkling alt-pop anthems with heart, including recent releases ‘Shovel’, ‘Lonely & Horny’ and ‘Silver Lining’, along with unreleased cuts ‘If You Had Any Friends’ and ‘Mouldy’.

The songs bounce around merci’s thoughts on big topics including the ups and downs of relationships, struggles with addiction and anxiety, and everything in between. With support from BBC Radio 1 on Jack Saunders’ Future Artists show and Mollie King’s Future Pop show, on all of her material to date, merci, mercy has never been afraid of exploring emotional vulnerabilities. Navigating mental health issues and overcoming personal hurdles surrounding anxiety and growing up in relationships, she has poured newly gained insights and perspective into ‘Like An Orchid’.

“My new EP Like An Orchid is the roller coaster of emotions you have during your first relationship and how extreme they can feel especially when you are someone who has anxiety. This EP will take you on a journey of my inner demons while also showing you into my heart a little bit. The songs in Like an Orchid are a family in terms of the lyrics but distant relatives in terms of the way they sound. Each story has its own sound.” – merci, mercy.

WATCH THE ‘IF YOU HAD ANY FRIENDS’ LYRIC VIDEO

‘Like An Orchid’ saw merci, mercy once again work with her longtime collaborator and friend, producer Chris Collins (‘Lonely & Horny’ and ‘Mouldy’) along with fellow Sydney-based songwriter and producer Robby De Sa (‘Silver Lining’ and ‘If You Had Any Friends’) and the one and only Matthew ‘Murph’ Murphy of The Wombats (‘Shovel’).

With over 24 million streams to her name thanks to the success of her first two EP releases: no thank you, no thanks (2020) and is it me, or is it you? (2022), the demand for new music from merci, mercy has grown in a consistent and organic way.

Widespread support via renowned outlets including triple j, Beats 1 and Zane Lowe, BBC Radio 1, Paper Magazine, NME, Clash Magazine, Flaunt and more, has positioned merci, mercy as part of a new vanguard of fresh Australian pop artists who have the potential to establish themselves as a long-standing presence internationally.

Extensive radio support throughout the UK and Europe, as well as continued global editorial playlist support across DSPs (she was one of the first global ambassadors of Spotify’s RADAR series and recently featured on the cover of Apple Music’s Superbloom playlist), has ensured merci, mercy’s front-of-mind status on the radars of industry and a fast-growing fanbase alike.

‘Like An Orchid’ is the next chapter in what has become one of Australian pop music’s most exciting and intriguing stories. Her dynamism was present from the jump but here, merci, mercy holds her space with a rejuvenated sense of self-awareness and ultimate happiness. A moment of blooming we can all wish to experience.

Listen to ‘Like and Orchid’ below…

Must Listens: Lonely & Horny, Silver Lining, Mouldy

Giorgia-May explores love and lust in new single, ‘Intertwine’

Rising Neo-Soul artist GIORGIA-MAY graces her presence with the enchanting single, ‘Intertwine’. This fierce and soulful track showcases Giorgia’s unique ability to capture the intensity of lust and the longing to entangle oneself in another. Together in collaboration with Berlin-based producer Tuftyhead, she has built the song with a non-traditional structure, with the chorus shapeshifting its instrumentation throughout the track. From horns to synthesizers, jazzy electric guitar to R&B-infused vocals, ‘Intertwine’ will mesmerize you with its captivating arrangement.

Giorgia-May describes the meaning & creative process behind ‘Intertwine’: “Witnessing this song come to life has been such a pleasure. It started with some intimate lyrics and jazzy chords, and the introduction of the horns and the full instrumentation has really brought the whole vibe to life. When I sing this song I feel empowered, like I’m reclaiming my femininity. The freedom to share my sensual thoughts is something that I don’t take for granted. So many women are shamed just for having such desires. Expressing this in myself helps me to build confidence in myself as a strong woman, and ultimately I want this to empower others to feel good in themselves. It’s natural to want to love and be loved in return, there is no shame in that and there shouldn’t be shame in wanting to sing about it.”

‘Intertwine’ was released on Friday, 24th November. Why not check it out below…

Arlo Maverick probes materialism in video for track, ‘Retail Therapy’

Canada’s hip-hop artist ARLO MAVERICK shared his astute perspective on working-class struggles last month with the release of his album, ‘Blue Collar’. Now he’s unveiling a new video for his track, ‘Retail Therapy,’ which probes the artist’s complicated relationship with money and materialism, and offers a suitable soundtrack to Black Friday remorse.

Over hard-edged UK drill-inspired beats and name-checks to Central Cee, the track captures the anxiety and impulsivity of consumption without the means, and the acquisition of material things as a form of social currency.

Alongside the track, is a dance-fueled video that Maverick says, “flaunts flyness and gives UK drill an Alberta twist.” Directed by Natalie Meyer and shot at various Edmonton and Calgary train stations, the video features rhymes and moves from Mahk Milliano and cameos by Calgary rapper Tea Fannie, R&B artist Rome IX, Edmonton MC and clothing designer Lion Luciano, and video director Da Kid T.

In probing materialism as a means of status-chasing, Maverick reveals the superficiality and foolishness in it all: “Got a closet full of product/That I only wore once/If I’m honest there’s no logic/I just bought it just to stunt.”

With every amusing, scathing observation, Maverick holds up a mirror to many of today’s social ills. “In our society a lot of us wear our successes and seek validation with items we purchase,” he says. “We acquire things that we don’t need to feel a certain way; to appear successful or flaunt status. But we often find ourselves in debt and still unhappy.”

Check out the video for ‘Retail Therapy’ below…

Song of the Day: Ghosts – Goldstepz

After a short hiatus ‘Ghosts’ is the fitting title of Vancouver-based R&B artist GOLDSTEPZ‘s return. ‘Ghosts’ is about loss and gain. It’s about losing friends and relationships through death, drifting apart, and life circumstances, while facing this loss head-on with our ability to grow and change. ‘Ghosts’ intricately weaves this story of give and take with a nostalgic sound that makes us all feel that although loss is inevitable, change is always possible. Check it out below…

Belau released their emotional dreamtronica album, ‘Apriori’

Peter Kedves and Krisztian Buzás – aka Budapest ‘s dreamtronica duo BELAU – invites us into another extraordinary emotional trip with new album called ‘Apriori’, their third record since their foundation in 2016. Both the artistic concept of their previous albums, ‘Colourwave’ and ‘The Odyssey’ was built upon emphasizing the importance of self-knowledge and consciousness. All these recordings’ emotional tracing are supported by ethereal lyrics and sounding faraway cultures.

‘Apriori’ is also grounding itself on these patterns both saluting Belau’s basic components and its fresh concept of inspiration using a vast amount of heartwarming nature echoes. For the ten track project, Belau have collaborated with several standout vocalists, including Beth Hirsch (Ethereal) who’s featured tracks with Air and Sarah Jay Hawley (Unimaginable), who’s voice can be heard on Massive Attack hits, Böbe (Altered) and Myra Monoka (Focus).

‘Apriori’ is definitely continuing the journey in Belau’s universe with both on a super sensitive and intensive level, providing a calm and spiritual haven for everyone who is currently searching for its belief in vitality and being ready for receiving the awe-inspiring power of the infinite by providing space for blooming their inner peace. All ten tracks are guiding all modern individuals into resolving the illusion of being atomized in the presence starting with the magnificent intro called ‘Oneness’. 

Belau has achieved several success worthy of note for the past six years – they’ve given more than 200 concerts in more than 25 different countries including outstanding festivals like Primavera Sound Barcelona, Electric Castle, Eurosonic or SXSW. In the past couple of years their songs have been played by serious radios like BBC Radio 1, Triple J, KEXP and KCRW not even mentioning the appreciative credits they’ve received from Billboard, Clash Music, The Line of Best Fit or Rolling Stone. The first record of Belau was given the Fonogram prize (which is the Hungarian alteration for Grammy).

‘Apriori’ is now out for your pleasure…why not have a listen below…

Must Listens: Faraway, Home, Unimaginable, Altered