MERK Shares new single & video 'Deep Dive' & Announces New Zealand Album Tour
Today Merk announces the latest single ‘Deep Dive' from forthcoming album Infinite Youth out April 9th.
Merk is the solo project of New Zealand songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Mark Perkins, which began when Perkins recorded 2016’s Swordfish (winner of Best Debut at the Taite Music Prize). Releasing both ‘GOD’ and ‘Laps Around the Sun’ earlier this year ‘Deep Dive’ is another look into the playful yet sincere world of Merk.
“Focusing on his own pop-edged indie brew, recent singles ‘H.N.Y.B’ and ‘GOD’ alerted fans to his solitary prowess, with those off piste lyrical observations setting him out from the pack.” - Clash (Track of the Day)
‘Deep Dive’ sees Merk setting the scene with a disco tinged beat, driving the song along as the delicate play of Juno Synth and guitar lay the groundwork for his own kind of syrupy sweet pop. A master at creating tracks that feel minimal and sparse imbibed with hidden gems, giving head spinning depth that you’ll catch on repeat listens. Merk weaves in everything from the play of strings to voice memos of the St Paul’s Cathedral organist.
Speaking on the new single, Merk had this to say:
“A portion of this song came to me in a dream one night, I woke up and went to the piano and recorded the demo. For that reason it feels very surreal and seperate to me. It’s one of the more pop moments on the album, a song that carries you the whole way through without changing too much. It reminds me a lot of our 80s Japanese city pop references as well as a New York New-Wave sound.
We started this in Copenhagen by chopping up a breakbeat sample to give this heavy groove and messed around with the guitar and Juno synth until they had this nice minimalist interplay with each other, almost becoming one instrument. When we recorded drums with Alex, we played him the song and told him to do whatever he felt. He laid down this really nice disco groove over the breakbeat that gave the song a lot of energy. To add a sense of depth I buried in the mix a voice memo recording I made while on tour in London when visiting St Paul’s Cathedral of an organist playing while tourists walked around. My favourite part of this song is the beautiful cello of Danish musician Nicole Hogstrand. In particular her pizzicato doubling the guitar lead in the instrumental.”
Accompanying Deep Dive’s release is a Sports Team written and directed video featuring Merkas head pancake chef at Auckland’s sweetest rooftop party.
Of the video Merk says:
“Sometimes I DJ at weddings under the name DJ Ragù and wear a chefs hat to help bring a good vibe. I think I made an offhand reference to this weird character I perform under to Sports Team when we were hanging out once, which they must’ve remembered because when I asked them to make a video with me for Deep Dive this is the concept they came back with: A rooftop pancake party where I’m performing like a DJ but instead of flipping records I’m flipping cakes, baby. So we invited a bunch of people over to my house in Auckland, went up to the rooftop and chaos ensued!”
Today also sees Merk announce his headline New Zealand tour. Celebrating the release of second album Infinite Youth Merk will be playing across five cities in May. Tickets go on sale March 22 at 9AM NZDT. You can find tour dates and tickets HERE.
May 1st - Jam Factory, Tauranga
May 15th - Cassette No. 9, Auckland
May 20th - Meow, Wellington
May 22nd - Loons Theatre, Christchurch
May 23rd - Dive, Dunedin
‘Deep Dive' is Merk’s fourth single from album Infinite Youth out worldwide via Humblebrag Records April 9th 2021. Pre order the album HERE.