Spending her early teens living in the controlled chaos of Beijing and Thailand, merci, mercy moved back to Australia, living between Jindabyne in the isolated Snowy Mountains and inner-city Sydney. The alienation of an unfamiliar Australia and the social anxiety that came with it informs her sparkling, introspective debut EP, no thank you, no thanks.
With a name fittingly arising from merci, mercy’s indecisiveness (unable to decide between spelling her name using an ‘i’ or ‘y’, she went with a friend’s suggestion of simply using both), she channelled her alienated detachment into writing songs, and put a demo online. That, remarkably, led to highly respected label Liberation Records (Vance Joy, Temper Trap, D.D Dumbo) getting in touch out of the blue.
A worldwide record deal ensued. “It felt like a dream,” recalls merci, mercy, and soon she was working with producers Edwin White (Vance Joy) and Joel Quartermain (G Flip, Meg Mac), and crafting her debut single, ‘Fucked Myself Up’. “Honestly. To be just doing my own thing, then working with Ed and Joel on this song was an amazing, life-changing experience.”
Tell us about how you got started in music.
Growing up I always wanted to be a part of the music world so I got my dad to buy me a guitar a 14 and taught myself how to play. I didn’t take it seriously until I was 16-17 when my dad bought me a Uke. I then forced myself to start writing songs and from then on I couldn’t stop and found the one thing I was good at. I used to tell my teachers that I’d either be a famous singer or homeless.
What is the message or inspiration behind your new single “Winne Crush”? How did it come about?
‘Winnie Crush’ came to be when I went up to Byron Bay to work with my favrouite producer Chris Collins. I had gone up there with only $100 for the week and then decided It was a good idea to spend $68 dollars of it on my cigarettes. It made me really evaluate my life. I realised I had been prioritising fuelling my addictions instead of fuelling myself.
What have you been up to in between releasing your debut EP last year and your new single?
I have really been working on myself a lot during the time between my debut ep last year and this new single. I am currently back in lockdown in Sydney which has really made life quite difficult for me but it’s also pushed me to be a better person. The current situation has pushed me to adapt. Not being able to go into the studio now has led me to try working on making demos by myself.
What inspired you get back to writing music?
I never stopped.
Who is an artist that you look up to today?
I try not to look up to other artists as it can lead to me comparing myself when in fact I just want to be a version of myself that I can look up to. If I could say an artist I look up to it would be my sister, who is a multifaceted creative. Watching her push through all the difficulties of being a creative inspires me to do the same. She’s always done what she want and has been who she is always.
Was there a specific record or artist that changed your life?
An artist that has really changed my life is Amy Winehouse. I love how she would be purely honest in every song that she would write. You could hear the pain in the music she was writing. ‘Back to Black’ got me through a lot in the past years and through my childhood. She inspires me to be honest and open about my struggles with mental health so that others feel that they can be too. I just want less people to hurt.
What inspires your sound?
The trauma in life inspires the sound of my music. The trauma was hard and difficult but what grew from it was beautiful.
What excites you the most about what you do?
The main thing that excites me with what I do is that it makes a point of relatability. My music shines a light on someone who struggles with mental health (aka me) which can make someone listening not feel so alone with their own struggles.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I’m not too sure where I’d be in 5 years as I didn’t see myself still here 5 years ago. I’m not someone who tends to plan far ahead, I just go with each day that comes.
Your style is very original and elaborate. What inspires your aesthetics and visuals?
I am inspired by the fact that I need to feel unique. I clash colours and patterns because I love the chaos. The chaos makes me feel in control of my life. Colours makes me feel like I can express myself even when life isn’t going the way that I planned.
What was the most daunting moment in your career so far?
The only thing in my life that doesn’t daunt me is my music career. Day to day I struggle with leaving the house to go to the shops or meet friends but leaving the house to go write music is something that I will forever not be afraid of.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
My sister always told me that it’s going to hurt a lot more going out into the world being somebody you’re not rather than being yourself.
Where do you think the next game changer will be in the music industry and entertainment scene?
The next game changer for the music industry and entertainment scene will be allowing people to be imperfect cause as humans that is what we are. If you don’t make mistakes how can you be a better person.
