MAGGIE ANDREW‘s latest single, ‘Come Clean,’ is about starting over, saying whatever’s on your chest and looking forward to a positive future.
I had a falling out with someone I thought was a friend, but they ended up ghosting me in life completely, Maggie explains the inspiration behind the song. “I felt really sad for a while because it left me confused and hurt, especially because I didn’t do anything wrong. It was like a breakup for no reason.”
The moody, rain-soaked intro sets the tone, which is immediately joined by the brooding electric guitar and heavy trap drums, both topped off with a real gritty grungy, cinematic alt-rock feel. Have a listen to ‘Come Clean’ below…
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.
‘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
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
A fresh mix of electronic rock with a few drops of synth pop are the secret ingredients of the Vancouver-based band, OURGLASSZOO. In 2022, they released their album, ‘Aftermath’, which included the single ‘Free’ in collaboration with JUNO-award winning hip-hop artist Prevail (Swollen Members). The track was remixed by producer KutMasta Kurt (Linkin Park, Beastie Boys) and features hip-hop legend Moka Only.
This all-star team has come together again for ‘Free Remix’ with a catchy hook, a retro vibe and a powerful message about equality that encourages freeing yourself from stereotypes and moving forward as one.
Sing and dance along to “Free Remix” feat. (KutMasta Kurt, Moka Only & Prevail) below:
Chart topping artist/producer TAI VERDES‘ latest single, ‘Sunset’, leans intentionally towards his hip-hop influences, combined with the infectious, upbeat, bass-driven standout sound that he has become well known for. ‘Sunset’ feels undeniably nostalgic, while painting a rap dreamscape with fresh, yet familiar synths, horns, and organ elements as his chosen colors.
‘Sunset’ follows previous singles this year ‘Sandman’ and ‘All White’. Both offerings were highlighted visually by striking music videos that serve to help usher in a new era, inspired in part by what Tai describes as the “second-generation Black mindset of putting culture on your shoulders and moving forward,” like the artistry of visionaries such as Andre 3000, Childish Gambino, and Kid Cudi.
Tai Verdes has been trending up and to the right after being named Billboard’s #1 Emerging Artist, garnering over 1.7B streams to-date. His debut album TV included several of the pandemic-era’s biggest viral hits in the US – ‘Stuck In The Middle’, ‘DRUGS’, and ‘AOK’ – earning RIAA Certified Gold and 2x Platinum honors. Tai has since performed on Jimmy Kimmel and The TODAY Show, at festivals worldwide such as Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Breakaway, Governor’s Ball, Reading Festival and Seoul Jazz Festival, garnering praise from Rolling Stone, Billboard, MTV, NPR, and more. The Shazam 2022 Artist to Watch kicked off last year with his equally explosive single ‘last day on earth’, followed by an extended headline tour around his sophomore album HDTV, featuring hit tracks ‘how deep?’, ‘Let’s go to Hell’, and ‘sheluvme’. He is currently honored amongst his peers in the 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
With this release teasing even more new music to come, Tai Verdes continues to position himself as a consummate artist – delivering well-written standout hits that invite his ever growing fan base to stand at attention for what’s to come…have a listen to ‘Sunset’ below…
New Lease Music 