Occupying the middle ground between Folk and Blues-Rock, Jordan Merrick is a world class storyteller. The troubadour’s latest single, The Painting is lifted from his forthcoming album, ‘Winner Take Nothing’ – due on October 18.
“I fell into a painting / My father gave to me,” begins Merrick; his weathered vocal filling the airspace above a nimble guitar. Originally beginning as a poem, the song was inspired by a real-life painting gifted to the songwriter by his father. “While art was a hobby for him, it was always something that inspired me,” recalls Merrick.
After a particularly off day, Merrick ruminated on his father’s painting, where he reached a poignant revelation. “I sat staring at it for what felt like an eternity. It now stands as a stern reminder of the need to rebel through creation, to remain true to the soul that writes prose or wields a brush.”
Masquerading as a dialogue between father and son, The Painting possess a more personal message for the singer-songwriter. “It is a conversation with an alternate version of myself who lets life beat the art out of me. It isn’t a song of hate or anger, but of love.”
When tracking the folk-bent single with producer Cody McWaters (King Stingray, The Chats), the pair decided to record everything live. “This song was live tracked in its entirety, with only the harmonica tracked separately. It was done in just two takes, with the final version being different to how I’d normally played the song. It was a happy mistake!”
Since unveiling his sophomore album, ‘Waiting Blues’, Merrick has seen plenty of radio success with his introspective roots sound. The album itself climbed to #15 on the Australian Independent Record Label Association charts, while three of its singles reached the top 6 of the AMRAP charts.
Having toured up and down Australia’s east coast as a one man band; supported C.W. Stoneking, Mia Dyson and Alex The Astronaut; and appeared at Torchfest in Sydney and Brisbane; Merrick has honed his stagecraft. Now he sets his sight on two night in South-East QLD – November 18 at Stranded Bar in Brisbane and December 1 at Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast.
Jordan Merrick has proven himself time and time again as a gifted storyteller and inspired musician. The Painting’s colourful tale about life’s cruel realities is further testament to this. Certainly, an impressive precursor to the album soon to follow.
UPCOMING DATES
November 18 – Stranded Bar, Brisbane
December 1 – Home of the Arts, Gold Coast
The Painting IS OUT NOW
‘Winner Takes Nothing’ will be available on October 18 – PRE-ORDER HERE
With thanks to Wildheart Publicity
