Mallory Merk Releases Lush New EP "Counterparts"
Photo Credit: Amber Park
Today, alt-pop dynamo Mallory Merk releases her lush new EP, Counterparts, a six-song collection on Warner Records that shows off her rich voice, stylish songwriting and magnetic cool. The EP features stunning songs like the sauntering “Devil Laugh,” which showcases Merk’s talent for imagistic, heartfelt lyrics that cut to the bone.
Counterparts, the follow-up to Merk’s 2020 debut EP Strangers, is a portrait of the singer-songwriter’s whirlwind year. Its six tracks portray love, life, and loss with closely observed lyrics that are simultaneously conversational and packed with metaphors.
“Devil Laugh,” a modern pop song that throws back to classic singer-songwriter ideals, is one of the EP’s obvious standouts. The track portrays heartbreak and longing with wit, an instantly memorable chorus, and a gently psychedelic breakdown.
“‘Devil Laugh’ is about watching people come and go after you feel like you’ve done everything to make them stay, knowing in your heart there’s still love. Sometimes our good intentions can end up blowing up in our face, but a part of you always wishes you won’t stay apart forever.”
Counterparts also includes a few of the visionary singles Merk has released on her recent productive streak, like the meta-love song “evol,” the slinking chronicle of fierce friendship “Sinister,” and the noir-tinged “Just Because.” It also includes intimate new tracks like the insistent, claustrophobic “Switchblades,” and the modern torch song “Over Sentimental.”
Through these six tracks, Merk shows how quickly her artistry has grown in the short time since her last EP. She’s already made fans out of tastemakers like The New York Times, I-D, VICE, and Nylon, among others, and this new release highlights just how special her songs have become — she’s the sort of blossoming pop star that the world needs right now.
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