The album Postcards From Valonia is now available as a strictly limited edition at The Mercurymen gigs and online exclusively from Fish Records. Click here to buy your copy now!
Meet The Mercurymen
Three of the UK's most talented acoustic musicians, Jinder, Simon Johnson and Gavin Wyatt have been a quiet sensation since colliding as solo artists and forming new Arista signing, The Mercurymen. The result is the beautifully crafted debut album Postcards From Valonia.
Postcards? “Oh yes,” says Simon. “Our songs are like little snapshots, little souvenirs of a journey, like postcards from your holidays. Gavin lived in a road called Valonia Gardens, and everytime we wrote a song, we'd send it off to our friends with a card saying “another one from the Valonia Hit Factory!”
But it was only a favour for a friend that brought them together in the first place, as Jinder remembers, “We were all doing session work as vocalists and guitarists, just helping out in a local studio and we were all doing a vocal session together, putting a three part harmony on a track. We all got round one mic, and as soon as we opened our mouths it was like “Oh. OK. This works!”
Each Mercuryman brings a very different set of experiences to the table, leaving audiences on a recent UK tour with Melody Gardot in no doubt of their potential. You can hear the lush melodic harmonies of Crosby, Stills & Nash, the pop sensibility of early Bee Gees, a dash of Crowded House fronted by Townes Van Zandt and before you know it a run into the nu-folk territory shared by the likes of Fleet Foxes & Bon Iver. Nevertheless there's a heady brew of influence at play in the Mercurymen sound.
Jinder elaborates, “My family on my mother's side are Native Americans by origin and so there's a lot of Americana about my life. But I grew up in Warwickshire and I heard a lot of English folk music. Every summer I could open my bedroom window and hear the Cropredy Festival happening in a field literally half a mile away, which really broadened our horizons”.
By contrast, Gavin and Simon came to the band after an apprenticeship with the greatest pure pop producer the UK has ever produced, Mickie Most.
“We spent three or four years being guided by him”, Gavin recounts. “We'd have a couple of days writing some songs, then go to Mickie and play them to him. We might be halfway through the first verse of one and he'd go ‘No!' and you'd have to play another one.”
Needless to say, no strong words could ever discourage all three from a life in music. “I was 11 when I got my first guitar for Christmas”, remembers Simon, “and by 13 I was playing gigs, begging grotty little bars to let me in!”
Hooking up with Gavin at school in the New Forest, the pair forged a creative partnership, eventually running into Jinder on the Bournemouth live circuit. The former lead singer of the acclaimed indie band Candlefire, he was described by Radio 1's Zane Lowe as “a significant new talent”.
Gavin identifies the key factor that Jinder brings to the band, “His phrasing is so unique, he has his way of doing things that wouldn't necessarily be the same twice in a row. He just feels music.”
And Jinder hopes that feeling will spread to the band's audience, “The songs are universal. They were written for friends of ours, but we'd like everyone to relate to them – make them feel better or make them want to leap about playing guitar on a tennis racquet – whatever they want!”
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
If you would like a FREE MP3 please send an email to info@lostaura.co.uk RE: FREE MP3, and we'll send you one just like that!
Our next London shows are Thursday 3rd September at The Dublin Castle in Camden followed by our new EP launch Sat 24th October at The Camden Barfly. We hope you can make one if not both of them.
HI GUYS COME AND SEE THE ALL NEW THE NEW WEBSITE AT www.billmurrayevents.com EVERYWERE MEN TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR THE WINTER GARDENS. THIS WILL BE THERE BIG ONE SEE YOU THERE.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
Hey, I just wanted to stop in and say thanks for the add! If you ever need a guitar strap, be sure to let me know. Have a great weekend and thanks again! Terri
Hi Guys, Just stopping by to say that I enjoyed seeing you at The Borderline last night. Thought you were great! Hope to see you again somewhere soon. Dawn x
This years festival is headlined by Billy Bragg (Friday), Seth Lakeman (Sunday) and Peatbog Faeries (Saturday) with many more top artists also performing incl the award winning The Demon Barbers and Henry Priestman.
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