Mercy Kelly: “We definitely draw a lot of inspiration from the gothic romanticism of bands like The Cure, but also from the hopeful, anthemic energy of U2, especially their Joshua Tree period”
Mercy Kelly came storming into my sonic atmosphere last month when they unleashed Speak Too Soon, an expertly pieced together indie rock gem that's ready to fill arenas with its anthemic punch. Based in Manchester, the five-piece outfit are beginning to cause quite a stir locally - and that’s no small feat given the city's longstanding tradition of producing world-class musicians.
Keen to learn more about the band and their artistry, I was stoked when the lads said they'd have a little chat with us. Diving into some of their biggest influences, the backstory of how they got their name, and what they'd love to change about the music industry, please welcome our friends, Mercy Kelly!
Fellas! It's an honour to have you here! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us.
Now, for those unfortunate souls who have yet to discover your sound, what would you say they’re missing out on? How would you describe your music?
We definitely draw a lot of inspiration from the gothic romanticism of bands like The Cure, but also from the hopeful, anthemic energy of U2, especially their Joshua Tree period. We’ve always been drawn to that 80s era, and we’re still exploring and borrowing from the sounds and moods of that time.
Your latest single, Speak Too Soon, is a track I was proud to label a "stadium-ready banger." It's a masterful piece of indie rock, and I was wondering how the song came together from idea to final mix.
The song was originally written on acoustic guitars with a fairly simple chord progression. We definitely find it easier to capture the essence of a song in a stripped-back format, especially in the early stages of writing. Adam came up with the first draft and played it to Jack, who then used his vocals to help shape it into a fully structured track. Before we knew it, Speak Too Soon was born.
Sticking with Speak Too Soon, I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at your stunning acoustic performance - which I'm now proud to share with everyone!
What inspired you to reimagine the tune in such a raw and intimate way?
Because the song started its life on acoustic guitars, we already knew the emotion and detail behind the words. Mercy Kelly began as an acoustic duo, so it felt right to revisit it that way, and it gave us a chance to explore every layer of Speak Too Soon.
You often hear something new in an acoustic cover version, something that you missed in the original. A good example was when we heard DMA’s cover of Cher’s Do You Believe, a song we had totally dismissed before.
Who are some of the band's biggest musical influences? And, if you could collectively "steal" one song in the world and claim it as your own, what would it be and why?
As a group of five, our musical influences are really varied. We all grew up on bands like The Killers, The Libertines, and Arctic Monkeys, but we’ve always felt more musically aligned with bands like The Cure.
If we could claim one song as our own, it would be With or Without You by U2. It’s gentle yet emotionally powerful, with delicate guitar lines, simple but beautiful instrumentation, and a lyrical honesty that just stays with you.
What would “being successful” in the music industry look like for Mercy Kelly? And, do you see it as an imperative or more of a cherry on top?
Success for us would be making music our life and having thousands of people singing our songs back to us around the world. Doing something we’re passionate about for a living and enjoying the ride along the way…that would be the dream.
I’m always intrigued by the story regarding artists’ or bands’ names…How exactly did Mercy Kelly come about?
The name came from a 1970s record by Trader Horne called Goodbye Mercy Kelly. Something about those words and name just jumped out at us, it was unique and felt like a real change from the “The [Something]” style of band names.
What are your thoughts regarding the music industry of today? And, if you were able to, what changes would you make to it?
The music industry has changed a lot, even in the short time since we grew up. Technology and streaming have transformed it, but artist payouts are much lower than they used to be in the days of buying vinyl or CDs (though vinyl is making a comeback).
Labels often sign artists based on social media and followers rather than just their music. If we could change anything, it would be higher payouts per stream and more focus on the music itself.
Fellas, thanks so much again for taking the time!
What comes next for Mercy Kelly and, I guess, in a broader sense, what does the next chapter of your sonic journey look like?
The future’s looking exciting! We’ve got more songs recorded and mastered in the bag, and our headline show at Gulliver's is coming up on the 20th of September.
After the overwhelming response to Speak Too Soon, it feels like a great moment to be part of Mercy Kelly.
