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

Electro trio Raveen unveils emotive single, ‘In The Middle’

Hailing from Montreal, RAVEEN as a trio has flourished into a united entity since releasing their debut full-length ‘Always’ in 2017. The record marks their foray into more subdued, lush songwriting and a grandiose approach to arrangement with orchestral strings, choir work and field recording. Live performances are evocative of Jeff Buckley’s dynamic peaks-and-valleys approach, while blending electronics and live instrumentation in new, innovative ways. Their releases are consistent markers of growth, with more on the way in the coming year.

The group’s latest single and resurgent return after the pandemic era setbacks with ‘In The Middle,’ a driving and emotive track. “This song tries to provide a snapshot of the emotions we feel in those moments when love and growth fight for dominance in our lives.” -Eric Segun

Listen to ‘In The Middle’ below…

Song of the Day: Postcards – Frex

LA-based alt-R&B trailblazer FREX returns with her latest single ‘Postcards’, released via Island Records. Textured, intimate and self-reflective; ‘Postcards’ is a delicate diary entry that sees her reminiscing over a fading relationship while deciding whether to move on and give up hope on it ever getting better.

Speaking on the single, frex said: “I wanted to keep being vulnerable during my process. Before you decide to move on, you’re deciding whether or not to give up all hope. Even though it’s a bad situation, you’re reminiscing.”

Known for her unique melodies and candid storytelling, frex is an artist to watch that is carving her own path and putting human connection at the forefront of her genre-blending artistry. Pulling inspiration from R&B, pop, jazz, classic rock, and more, frex uses her music to process her feelings and experiences, and push boundaries with the hope that her artistry helps others embrace their own vulnerability and overcome what they’re going through. Raised in a small town in Pennsylvania and now residing in LA, the rising talent is ready to bring her sound to a global stage.

The new single arrives on the heels of ‘Hoodie Back,’ an unbothered vibe that flips the script on the classic story of someone keeping a memento following the end of a relationship. Speaking to frex’s unique perspective on love and allowing yourself to be broken-hearted but not a victim with lyrics that cut deep, ‘Hoodie Back’ received acclaim from Billboard (calling her their “freshest find”), UPROXX, and more. The song followed frex’s breakthrough, viral hit ‘Oxford Circus’ – which debuted in the Spotify Viral 50 upon release and has racked up over 17 million streams on Spotify alone – and recent single ‘Forever Thing,’ a dreamy, breathy confession whose synths murmur through a glitchy beat which heralded her new chapter.

frex is fresh from supporting Alina Baraz on her US tour this Autumn and made her UK live debut this summer performing at All Points East Festival and a headline show at London’s ‘Folklore’, with support from the likes of Spotify, Billboard, Wordplay Magazine and more – stay tuned for more from this bubbling talent. but for now, listen to ‘Postcards’…

Watch Jessica Wilde’s Video, ‘Freak Out’

JESSICA WILDE‘s video for latest single, ‘Freak Out’, mirrors the song’s message of stepping into your power and following the call of spirit.

Musically, the track sizzles with bass loaded, rhythm inflected dirty alt-Hip hop / pop vibes, with Wilde’s candid and intelligent rap lyrics weaving around infectiously. Produced by Wilde herself, with atmospheric snappy percussion flourishing and quirky vocal samples scattered throughout making a truly unique sound with the distinctive finishing touch of co-production by Tom Maine (WU-LU, Kid Cruise).

‘Freak Out’, which has been picked up for plays on BBC 6 Music’s New Music Fix and BBC Radio 1’s Future Artists, is the first single of a powerful forthcoming album project from Wilde, which features some of the most insanely talented artists on the rise- Josh Barry (Nile Rodgers / Rudimental), Zoe Kypri (Black Coffee) and James Newman (Writer of Brit award winning song ‘Waiting all night’ by Rudimental’).

So let your inner freak out and watch the video below…

John Alone tackles love and isolation in highly-anticipated album, ‘No one is coming to save you’

With radio and editorial support from the likes of Jamz Supernova of BBC 1Xtra acclaim, US publication Ones To Watch, NTS, Dummy, KissFM, Wordplay Magazine and Wonderland, it is clear that the eyes and ears of the music industry are firmly on the nascent R&B superstar JOHN ALONE . After over a year of teasing and speculation, the trailblazing alternative artist has finally released his latest full length effort, ‘No one is coming to save you’.

The 18-track collection goes on the journey of love and isolation, loss and salvation, while proudly answers the cry for uniqueness and individuality in a sea of ever evolving musical norms that will be appeal to fans of Frank Ocean and The Weeknd.

‘No one is coming to save you’ is as multi-layered and unfiltered as the artist himself. John has left no stone unturned, no feeling unexplored and no theme undiscussed, choosing to bare it all for his growing fanbase. Why not check it out below…

Must Listens: go2hell, indira, PLACE, faawud, Lord’s Prayer, what a life