Fridae

Frequent readers of this blog may remember that I first alerted you about Mercedes back in 2010 when I wrote about her spunky debut single "Shock Absorber." Since then, the young Londoner has shifted gears to prep for the big time by signing to Warner Music Publishing in Los Angeles and working with an impressive slew of hitmakers.

For the past few months, Mercedes has been racking up air miles, shuttling between Camden and Los Angeles to record with people like Tim Powell (Girls Aloud, Sugababes), Kill the Noise (Yelawolf, Skrillex) and Si Hulbert (Ed Sheeran, Cee Lo Green). She has also collaborated with legendary producer Rodney 'Darkchild' Jenkins (Destiny's Child, Jennifer Lopez) with whom she recorded the track "Superstar," which was co-written by none other than Lady Gaga.

It's been an exciting journey for Mercedes, a multi-talented artist who sings, raps, DJs and also models once in a blue moon. Raised in Copenhagen, and of South American and Jamaican descent, Mercedes started out her career a dancer who toured and performed across Europe with artists such as Will.i.am, Nicole Scherzinger and Snoop Dogg. But it was her love for artists like A Tribe Called Quest, Grace Jones and Neneh Cherry that compelled her to put dancing aside for a while and fully focus on a career in music. 

After teasing us with that incredibly catchy "Shock Absorber," the time has now come for Mercedes to unleash some of her new music and stir an early buzz about her forthcoming debut LP. The first track she unveils from her new project is the prog-pop tune, entitled "A Little Too Much," that premieres exclusively right here on ArjanWrites.com. 

"A Litte Too Much" is nothing like the cookie-cutter tunage that is currently ruling the charts and truly brings a fresh new sound to the global pop scene. It's a slow-burning powerhouse filled with daring twists and turns that takes listeners from its grinding intro to a glossy, sunburst chorus that's neatly anchored by a grimy groove. "A Little Too Much" ventures into sonically uncharted territory when it breaks down and transitions from a soulful rap sequence into a frenzied string and micro-synth section that is best described as orchestral dubstep.

Equally compelling is the song's video that was directed by Mark (Stonefire) Stenild, and inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's classics like Vertigo, A Trip to the Moon and horror films such as The Ring, and Cabinet by Dr Caligari. Highly recommended.