Interviews: Mercers

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Alternative Metal band Mercers from the UK. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it, or did it just come out like that?

We were messing around with loads of different names for a while. We’ve always liked the idea of having a person’s name as a band name, probably because we were really into Will Haven back in the day, and that kind of thing always stuck with us. Nothing was really landing, then Olly came up with Mercers, which is actually a lake near where we live. I liked it straight away. It’s short, it looks good written down, and I liked the way it looked in lower case. I’m always thinking about logos and artwork, so that helped sell it to me.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

I think when Olly and I first started playing music together in our early twenties, back in Fony, we wore our influences on our sleeves a lot more. It was all Deftones, Will Haven, Snot, Korn, and that whole world of heavy music. We did it for 6 odd years, and over time, you develop your sound. This time around, it feels a bit more natural. We’re older now, and I don’t think we’re trying to fit into a genre in the same way. When we started talking about making new music, the idea was to take the aggressive, heavy, punky bits we loved and push those forward, but still have space for cleaner, more emotional parts. Olly has always had that Jeff Buckley influence vocally, so that side is in there, too. I guess you end up somewhere in post-hardcore when it’s not clean enough for the emo crowd, but not heavy enough for the metal crowd. That’s probably where we sit.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Yeah, I’ve known Olly since I was a teenager from our old band. I met Rich around 2010, maybe even a bit earlier. One of my friends was filling in for his hardcore band at the time, and Si was in that band as well. Rich and I stayed loosely in touch for years, and then when Olly, Rich, and I started talking about doing new material, Rich suggested Si for guitar. We all hung out, got on well, and it just made sense. It didn’t feel forced, which is important.

4. Each band member’s favourite band?

Me (Phil) - Poison the Well

Si (guitar) - Incubus

Olly (vocals) - NIN

Richard (drums) - Counterparts

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

For me, I'll write a riff or part of a song and then send it over to Rich; it’s normally a collaboration. Ultimately, if someone brings in a good idea, it sparks something else off in my head. That’s the best bit about being in a band: someone can play one thing, and suddenly you hear where it could go. I’ve also worked in music production for years, so sounds and gear inspire me a lot. A new plugin, a drum library, a weird guitar tone, or even just a groove can send you off somewhere completely different. Sometimes it’s less about sitting down and trying to write a song and more about messing around until something starts pulling you in. So yeah, people, sounds, plugins, tones — that’s usually where it starts for me.

6. Where was your last gig?

Mercers is still really new, so we haven’t played our first show yet. Rich and Si’s last shows with Six Time Champion were around 2016, I think. My last show with Olly in Fony would have been back in 2005, but I’ve done other projects and bits since then, as the other guys have. I think the last time I personally played live was around 2020. So we’re definitely due one.

7. Where would you like to play?

Brixton Academy would be a big one. I’ve never played there, so that would definitely be something to tick off. I’d also love to play Razzmatazz in Barcelona again. That venue is sick, and Barcelona has always been a special place for me.

8. Who would you like to support?

Glassjaw and Poison the Well would be the big ones for me. Years ago, we were booked to play a Kerrang weekender with Glassjaw headlining, but they pulled out, so that one still feels unfinished. It would be nice to finally make that happen in some form.

9. Who not?

Anyone with a massive ego or weird elitist energy. I think music is best when people are sound, open-minded, and not taking themselves too seriously.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Yeah, definitely. I always get that horrible feeling in my stomach before playing. I think a lot of people do, even if they don’t admit it. The thing is, once the first couple of chords kick in, it normally starts to calm down. You remember you’re up there doing something you love, with people you trust, and then you just lean into it. For beginners, I’d say don’t wait until you’re not nervous, because that might never happen. Just be prepared, get through the first song, and let the nerves become part of it.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Refused, Poison the Well, and Minus the Bear are probably three of the biggest for me. When I first heard Refused, it changed a lot. I think it was around 2000, and The Shape of Punk to Come had already been out a few years. They might have even split up by then. That record still sounds insane and was unlike anything I had hear both writing and production-wise. Poison the Well was massive for me, too. I got into them around Tear from the Red, so I actually missed the first record at the time. The mix of heavy parts, emotional clean vocals, and those chord choices really changed the way I looked at guitar. Then, Minus the Bear was probably the first math-rock-type band I really got into. From a guitar point of view, that was another “what the hell is this?” moment. It just opened up a different way of thinking.

12. What’s the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

So far with this band, nothing yet — which is probably a good thing. I’m sure that will change eventually.

13. What do you think of your fans?

It’s still early days for Mercers, so saying “fans” feels a bit mad at this point. Our first single has only been out for a couple of days, so we’re still at the beginning of it all. But anyone who has listened, shared it, messaged us, or shown any interest — we really appreciate it. Starting a new band at this point in life is a bit of a leap, so any support genuinely means a lot.

14. What do you think of our site?

When I clicked on the site, it instantly reminded me of the kind of independent music blogs I used to love around fifteen years ago — the ones where you could properly discover underground bands, heavy music, post-hardcore, post-metal, and all the stuff that didn’t always get covered elsewhere. I mean that as a real compliment. Sites like this are important because they keep the scene visible and give smaller bands a platform. In a time when everything feels driven by algorithms, it’s really cool to see people still putting time into independent music and giving bands space to talk about what they’re doing. So yeah, genuinely — keep it up. We need more of this.

15. Something to add?

Thanks for having us. Mercers is still right at the start, but there’s a lot more coming. The first single is out now, and we’ve got more music ready to go. Follow us, check it out, and come say hello when we finally get this thing on stage.

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