If we could send push notifications to your phone, all of them would be about our newest obsession. And in our last Jagwar Twin article, we even told you who it was about, so you’ve been warned this was coming. So, let’s talk about Mercy and all the reasons why you should be as obsessed with her as we are. Are you sitting down and paying attention? Good. Taking notes earns you bonus points.
We first discovered Mercy at the One Universe Music Festival where there were easily a gazillion things all happening at the same time. So, if you missed us raving about her then, you kind of get a pass. And that means you’re in for a treat with this article because it’s all about our favorite gloomy queen.
Our first glimpse was onstage with Jagwar Twin to perform the track she wrote with him titled ‘Not Your Homie.’ When her performance ended, all we were left to do was obsess nonstop and do as much research as humanly possible so that we’d be the most knowledgeable Mercy stan ever. Lucky for you, we’re going to share what we learned. And you know what, honey? There’s a LOT to share.
Welcome To MERCY’s World
There are two things in this world that must never happen: 1. Never put Baby in a corner and 2. Never, EVER put Mercy in a box. There’s not one single category that remotely describes her. Singer? Yes. Songwriter? YOU BETCHA! Producer? Yep. DJ? Done that, too. And that’s just the music! Her creativity stretches far beyond anything you could hum. Mercy does it all. Fashion, acting, stunt work, Muay Thai — can you see why we’re so fixated? There’s so much to learn about her and it’s all so cool! Thanks to Mercy, we suddenly understand that whole “soft but will totally destroy you” vibe.
And because we obviously needed to know how one person ends up with a resume like that, we kept digging. And because you’re about to benefit from our research: YOU’RE WELCOME! 🥰 Mercy left home when she was only 16 years old, convinced there was something bigger out there waiting for her.. And oh, was there ever! She made a name for herself as a DJ, even working with artists like Drake and The Weeknd. But, when you’re a creative, sometimes the challenge is the best part of the journey. So, instead of getting comfortable in the spotlight, Mercy started producing, writing, and eventually stepping up to the mic herself. Basically, every time life handed her a new door, she didn’t open it, but instead kicked it down and found out what was on the other side. Just queen things.
And if you think this sounds like a woman who could kick your butt and then make you a playlist to help you recover, you’re starting to understand who Mercy is and why we’re so obsessed with her. Mercy is just so fascinating to us—the kind of juxtaposition that somehow makes perfect sense when you add cat ears. And she’s managed to create a sound that matches. Me-freaking-ow! Mercy doesn’t seem particularly interested in labels, embracing every side of herself with a ferocity that all of us wish we could bottle. Sweet? Check. Strong? Absolutely. Spooky? Kinda, yeah. Cool? The coolest we’ve ever heard of. Why pick one vibe when you can have the whole enchilada? And honeybees, if you think this Mercy enchilada is tasty, just wait until you help yourself to a hefty portion of her music!
Okay, grab your spoons and tuck your napkin into your shirt, because it’s time to dig in! Mercy’s music sounds exactly like you’d expect after everything we’ve just told you. One minute we’re floating around inside her dreamy vocals, and the next a dark electronic drop has grabbed us by the ankles and dragged us somewhere entirely different. And you know what? We’re going willingly. ‘NEMESIS’ and ‘POSSESSION’ are perfect examples of that sweet-meets-spooky Mercy magic, and both have been living very comfortably in our rotation. Rent free, obviously.
And then there’s ‘Not Your Homie‘
Ahhh, the song that started this whole deep dive! We’ve already told you that Mercy co-wrote the track with Jagwar Twin, but it also holds a special little place in our honey-coated hearts because it’s how we found her in the first place. One performance in Korea later and suddenly we’re here writing an entire article about her. See what you did, Mercy? This is all your fault! But while ‘Not Your Homie‘ may have been our introduction, we’ve learned enough by now to know that it was only that: an introduction.
It doesn’t take much for us to fall down a playlist rabbit hole and Mercy definitely gave us one to explore! But, if you’re expecting a syrupy pop princess, the exit is to your left. Mercy leans more into her DJ roots and uses them to build these dark, techno tracks that make us feel like we’re in the club (we’re not — we’re in our bedroom and contemplating a third cheese stick). Don’t take our word for it, though! Put on your headphones and head to her YouTube, where you can have the club atmosphere and cheese sticks at the same time. Name one club that offers that.
One of our favorites during our deep dive was ‘Possession.’ Mercy’s vocals in this track are heavenly, a nice juxtaposition to the dark, heavy instrumentals that are pervasive throughout it. The video was slick too, with a dark twist that we didn’t bargain for, but no spoilers for you! Head over to her YouTube and see it for yourself, Honey!
Meet Gloomy Girl
Now that we’ve successfully turned your bedroom into a nightclub, what if we told you Mercy has another world for us to explore? (Seriously, does this woman ever sit down?) Meet Gloomy Girl, her fashion universe built around transformation, resilience, and self-invention. And if that wasn’t already enough to make us want to know more, its philosophy is “through the storm, the icon is born.” Excuse us while we embroider that on a pillow, tattoo it on our foreheads, and then pledge allegiance to our new club president.
And remember those black cat ears we’ve been casually mentioning since Korea? Yeah, those aren’t just because Mercy woke up one morning and decided everything is better with cat ears (although, valid). The black cat has become part of her artistic persona, popping up alongside that same mix of femininity, darkness, and strength we’ve been discovering throughout this entire deep dive. Suddenly, it all makes a whole lot more sense, doesn’t it? Me-freaking-ow, indeed.
We’re Keeping Our Eyes On Mercy, and you should be too. We can foresee her making our ‘Ones To Watch‘ list at the end of the year.
What about Mercy has you the most intrigued? Check out her music and let us know what you thought by leaving a comment here, or @thehoneypop on whatever platform you choose! And while you’re at it, make some room on those playlists of yours. We have a feeling you’re going to need it.
