Interview: Getting to Know Mercers

UK alternative rock band Mercers have unveiled their captivating debut EP, ‘The Liminal Tapes’, out everywhere on July 17th. The band have also released their fiery new single and video, Cleanse / Repeat. In this interview we get to know them a little better.

1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.

Thanks for having us! We are Mercers, a rock band from Sussex. Formed of ex Fony members, Olly and Phil, and ex Six Time Champion members, Rich and (myself) Simon, who you’re speaking to today.

It’s been a nice mutual meeting of minds, we all realised we shared a passion of wanting to get back into music and put some unfinished business to bed. Olly and Phil had been working on re-recording of a couple of their old songs and had Rich on board to drum for them. Very quickly the project grew legs and there was an appetite for more, which is when they reached out to me to complete the line up. It’s been a blast getting back in the room and working towards some new and exciting material together!

2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?

We like to make noisy, abrasive, melodic anthems. Post-hardcore, if we need to label it. But we’ve all got quite a mix of favourite bands and genres between us all, which I think really helps mould and influences our sound.

3. What’s currently keeping you busy? A new album/EP/single release? A new video? Playing live, or planning ahead?

We’ve just released our first single, Cleanse/Repeat, from our upcoming EP The Liminal Tapes (coming out July 17th). There’s going to be a second single being released in June too, so we’ve had a busy few weeks sorting out videos for each of the new singles and also finalising our artwork, promo pics etc., basically all of the stuff that goes on behind the scenes ahead of an upcoming release.

4. What is about this current period that is particularly exciting for you?

Finally having the opportunity for everyone to hear the music we’ve all been working so hard on behind the scenes. It’s been a long time since I’ve personally had new music to shout about and perform too (and something I’ve really missed doing!). I can’t wait to hear what other people think and see how it all goes down live.

5. Tell me about the work that has gone into making it a reality and what it means to you.

We took a very hands on/DIY approach to making this record. We’re lucky enough to have a range of experience between us and music production backgrounds we can lean on. Phil headed up production, he tracked vocals with Olly and then between us we tracked the guitars. Rich recorded the drums down at The Ranch, where Neil Kennedy also mixed, and finally our own Phil Bashford mastered it all.

It was a nice full circle moment from conception to delivery and something we can all be proud of, especially after all the hours we put into making it a reality!

6. Making music and being creative can be a very positive experience and can be very good for the mind. In what way has making music had a positive impact on your mental health?

I find making music such a release from the everyday grind. Having a creative outlet gives you something else to focus your efforts on and can be very cathartic. I love losing myself in the process, even if what I’m working on or vibing with doesn’t fit exactly what we’re doing as a band — there’s something in just making music and finding that flow state.

7. It can also be incredibly challenging, more so in the modern times. What have been some challenging aspects of making music and how have you overcome them?

I think the shape of the industry has changed – local music scenes aren’t as big as they used to be, and to be a full-time touring band becomes harder with the work/life balance that’s needed to make it sustainable. But, being able to produce and record music yourselves, promote everything via social media and self-release to streaming platforms on your own terms, does break down a lot of barriers that might have been there in the past.

8. How do you handle the online aspects of being in a band? Having to put out content constantly, promoting across several different social media platforms, and having your success measured in likes and follows?

There’s a certain peer pressure to social media and being on trend, but we’re just going to post in a way that suits us most naturally and feels genuine, people will see through the fake meme-culture videos when it’s forced. It’s a shame the social media giants have made a culture where you have to constantly post to be noticed and visible on people’s feeds, but your success shouldn’t just be measured in likes and follows (they can be bought, after all…)

9. How do you make this part of things enjoyable, and fulfilling, for yourself?

We’ll play to our strengths and be our true-selves. I’m personally a big fan of seeing behind the scenes content; studio videos, playthroughs, breakdowns of tracks etc. so I’d like to make content that’ll hopefully inspire others too. Like I said earlier, social media is such a powerful tool for exposure, so it’s great to have direct access to fans and bands alike, to really help build those connections and fanbases.

10. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support you?

Please just take a moment to listen to and enjoy our music! It’s great to be back and to have released something we’re all really proud of, and have worked hard to make a reality. Follow our socials to stay up to date, and when we play live, come out and see us and say hi! This is just the beginning…

11. Outside of music, what do you like to do to relax?

If I need to switch off from music, I find Gaming and Reading give me the same release and moments of escapism I’m looking for.

12. Where can people find you?

Our music is available on all major streaming platforms. To connect on social, you can find us at:

Instagram | Facebook | X | TikTok