The Artist Explains: Merpire - 'Village'
Australian indie-pop singer Merpire has just released her self-doubt tacking new single ‘Village’, along with the announcement of her album ‘Simulation Ride’ - which is due out the 23rd July 2021. She took a moment to talk to us about the new track and what to expect from the new album.
Hey there Merpire, so your track ‘Village’ is out now - can you tell us what it is about?
It is! It's my favourite song from the record so I'm very excited to have it out. When I first got together with my partner I compared my energy to his a lot. He's more extroverted than I am, with almost boundless energy and I'm more on the introverted side, gravitating towards quiet time and movies. At the time we got together I'd recently moved to Melbourne and was extremely socially anxious. Because I was so afraid of these feelings, I thought he would see that I'm crazy and would break up with me for not being enough. When I did have panic attacks, he was right there with me, assuring me I was safe. We're still together.
At the same time, I had a job punting people around the lake in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Melbourne. I would give them a brief insight into the flora and fauna life in and around the lake. There's one island that's populated by the native Bell birds. They farm an insect called a psyllid which produces a sugary substance that the Bell birds are addicted to. They have a symbiotic relationship. I was very interested in this as a metaphor for a relationship so whenever I was daydreaming of a morning, setting up the boats for the day, listening to the Bell birds, I would add to this song in my head.
Where was the track recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process?
It was recorded at my producer's family home, in his Mum's sewing room! He had a small studio setup there. James is an exceptional producer and the times we recorded there was proof that you don't need fancy gear to make something special. I do have an interesting insight into the recording of this song! At the very beginning, you can hear the chorus. it sounds muffled and far away. This was actually accidentally recorded through the feedback of one of the electric guitars that we were tracking at the time. It sounded so cool we kept it in. James also added the sound of a tape machine's buttons being pressed. I love it.
The track itself tackles self-doubt, do you feel that is something musicians deal with on a regular basis? How do you overcome that feeling?
Totally! Imagine starting a small business you throw thousands of dollars into and ask countless people to believe in with no guarantee of it being sustainable. Now imagine that the industry in which you've started your small business in isn't an industry that is well respected or supported in the wider community, society and culture you live in. Add your family asking you when you're going to look for real work every Christmas while comparing you to other family members your age who have kids and a mortgage. Oh and you identify as a woman. HEY, you've got yourself an early career in music!
You know what though? For me, and for many other friends pursuing music as a career, we consider ourselves fortunate that this is what we get to sometimes suffer through life for. Being human is to suffer after all, whether greatly or trying to decide what flavour packet of chips/crisps you want (also me). Yes, a lot of it is very hard work internally and externally. I am lucky to be born into a life that allows me to freely explore my options, making certain sacrifices whilst surrounded by an incredibly supportive and motivating, close-knit community here in Melbourne.
There are problems great and small wherever you turn. This sounds bleak I know! The more I learn about being human though, the acceptance and responsibility, the more I realise, "Wow, I must really love music because I choose to keep going even when it's really hard." That's what helps get me through the self-doubt. I ask the question, 'What else would you rather do?" Quickly answered with, "Nothing." Then I just get on with it whilst respecting myself enough to take lots of breaks because that's personally what I need.
I'm not sure how to overcome the feeling of self-doubt. I find reading about it, accepting that feelings like that will come and go and checking in with my fellow music mates and my team, incredibly helpful. Them and a great psychologist or counsellor when you need can go a long way on the self-worth journey!
This single is taken from your debut album ‘Simulation Ride’ - which you have just announced. When can we hear that and what can we expect from it?
Yes! The Simulation Ride is definitely starting to feel like a real ride now that I've announced it. You can hear it from July 23 and you can expect more genres from my internal video-store. There's what I think are some unique musical moments, like a Wiggles keyboard featuring on the closer 'Yusiimi'. I actually reached out to The Wiggles licensing team to ask if we could use it, as it was just a melody one of the buttons made when you pressed it, that just happened to be the exact tempo and key we were looking for in the bridge of that song. We obviously got the ok!
My drummer Jess absolutely nails so many moments. James, my producer has this way of planting tasty little sonic easter eggs into each song that you may miss the first time or want to hear more than once. He's so great and has taught me much about producing so that i was very much involved in the production process.
There's raw Iphone demo recordings in parts and big, lush moments, weird guitar sounds and more lyrical stories I hope people can relate to in order to make them feel less alone in their similar thoughts.
I could not be more excited to release it and share it with whoever wants to listen :)
Along with the track, you have released a video - how does it connect to the song?
It features my truly wonderful band who are part of the village I speak of in the song. Every rehearsal we have I come away being grateful that they want to play my music with me again and again. I've always wanted to shoot a video that they star in and have always wanted to shoot a video like this at my house because the positioning of the windows is perfect for filming a 5-piece band. I live with my videographer, Nick Mckk, so it was all quite easy. Another housemate made us all pesto pasta for dinner. It was a wholesome evening, which perfectly matched the idea in the song.