Music Industry News

Hailing from the Kapiti Coast, New Zealand, singer-songwriter Steph Casey, releases her powerful and moving single, ‘Merced‘ on September 11th. Her first release in more than six years and the first off her third body of work, with her new EP due for release later this year.

‘Merced’ delivers an impassioned song, reflecting on the sometimes never-ending despair we can find ourselves in, alongside the joy of coming out the other side. As an experienced singer-songwriter and longtime champion for industry-wide musical support of fellow musicians, the time for a change in style and instrumentation felt right. Known for her story-driven songs blending indie folk, americana, and alt-country, this new sound heads back to where her love for music began, with a particular look to the grunge and alt-rock music of her twenties. ‘Merced’ is a beautiful introduction to the first of two songs she has composed and performed on piano, for her forthcoming EP. This one came to be on a beautiful antique heirloom Lipp piano. Drawing on personal experience and musical depth, this latest release is a perfect example of this talented artist’s clear authenticity to self.

“For two years, I was piano-sitting a beautiful antique Lipp piano, which I’d taught myself to play in a manner of sorts. The piano was a very special instrument with a beautiful tone. I’d had no piano tuition, and taught myself to play it in my own style using chords and experimenting with sounds. I wrote this song on that piano.”

After releasing her sophomore album, The Seats In My Car in mid 2019, Steph Casey toured her album in New Zealand and travelled to the United States on a musical pilgrimage where she performed with singer-songwriters she had met and collaborated with on the music-sharing platform SoundCloud. This trip was to have a profound effect on her, and from one notable US travel experience, came the song ‘Merced’, the first single from her upcoming EP.

Merced, largely about Casey’s personal experience travelling alone in the US on public transport, missed opportunities, trying to get away from wildfires, and a deep feeling of desperation and despair, all while stuck in little-known US town, Merced. Thanks to the kindness of a few strangers and a reminder of the goodness of people, there was light at the other end.

‘Merced’ starts with the captivating spoken voice of renowned US musician and songwriter, Gary Sunshine, before the piano and Steph Casey’s voice begin to set the scene. Without warning, the entire band including drums sweeps in, adding power and emotional punch to the central call of the song “Oh Merced, have mercy on me”. Throughout the track, quiet introspective moments are transformed by the power of the drums, bass and layered electric guitars, combining with the crashing piano chords to create a crescendo that mirrors the song’s theme of desperation and isolation. The song comes full-circle with an uplifting celebration, after having escaped danger, where the guitars and piano soar, driven by the drums over a foundation of bowed upright bass.

“I’d gone from desperation to happiness and gratitude in a matter of hours, thanks largely to the kindness of a couple of strangers. I didn’t want to misrepresent Merced as being a one-dimensional crime-ridden place, but decided to leave the stats on the song to set the scene for the sense of desperation I felt, and to explain the Merced/Mercy translation. When I found out the meaning of Merced, I thought – that’s the song“.

‘Merced’ was recorded at The Surgery Studios, Wellington, by multi-award-winning engineer Lee Prebble (The Black Seeds, Phoenix Foundation). As on her previous album, The Seats In My Car, Casey is once again backed by the stellar cast of New Zealand musicians and Casey’s regular collaborators: Caroline Easther (The Chills, The Verlaines, Beat Rhythm Fashion) on drums, Alan Galloway (Let’s Planet, Galloway) on electric guitar and keyboard, Murray Costello (The Mockers, The Wooden Box Band, Simple Animal) on bass. Norwegian-kiwi singer-songwriter Hanne Jostensen can be heard singing backing harmonies.

Steph Casey releases Merced on September 11th via all digital retailers.

Check out all things Steph Casey below:
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube

Photo credit: Leigh Wallace