YOU NEVER DID ANYTHING WRONG EP RELEASE SHOW

“One of my friend’s always asks this question – what percentage do you think of the past, present, and future? Most of that percentage is taken up by thoughts of the future.” Sitting down with mer marcum an hour before her first headline show at Brooklyn’s Union Pool, we dived into the realities of fear, allowing yourself to be proud of your accomplishments, and the cult of Waco, Texas.

It’s clear from the start that her community adores her, it was written in every detail of the night, including her white, glove dress which was made special for the show. The dress was designed and made by her friend Liv of by liv handmade in Williamsburg. While we were chatting people would stop in, their genuine love for her radiating from their faces and their voices barely containing their excitement. It was plain to see that the love and admiration was completely reciprocated by mer. “Nobody does anything alone,” and she quoted her community as something that has bolstered her through this 4 year long process of writing, recording, and releasing her ep You Never Did Anything Wrong. She gushed over her opening acts – Evil Adeline and meg elsier – running from the interview to make sure she could support them in the crowd. Both acts played worthy of their own headlining shows and spoke glowingly of mer marcum during their sets. 

So much of this process for mer marcum has been a journey in self discovery and allowing yourself to feel pride in your own work as an artist. We spoke about the imposter syndrome she faces as a young artist and how this ep and launch are helping combat that feeling. The ep explores this theme of forgiveness, the ending track You Never Did Anything Wrong feels like a release. A release of so much that no longer serves in her journey. There’s obviously this emphasis on the future as an artist and she explains that, “I keep thinking about what’s next? It just keeps getting bigger.” But for the night these fears are cast aside, there’s a feeling of being wholly present in the air tonight, of finally enjoying the fruits of her labor. Tonight really, is the physical manifestation of all the years of work and dedication it took to create this ep and to cultivate this community. “I [mer] can separate the anxiety of the future from the pride I feel in accomplishing these things,” speaking of all the time and energy it took to get to this first headline show and finally allowing herself to enjoy it all. And that’s clear in her set in this low lit, foggy room: it’s fun and it’s emotional and it’s authentic. 

The room was packed for the sold out gig – with almost 100 people on the waitlist. Fans came to the venue hours early to get a chance to chat with mer and gift her handmade creations. It was live music at it’s best – a room full of people who want to be there, who scream out lyrics to their favorite songs, and yell out a resounding “no” at the announcement that it’ll be over soon. If anything, music is a community builder, and it is clear that this community cares deeply for each other and for mer marcum. 

Fittingly the set ended with mer marcum (and everyone else) singing a cover of Kelly Clarkson’s Breakaway, which truly felt like the perfect cathartic release into this new version of herself.