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Canadian singer-songwriter Taylor Janzen has released her first new music since her debut EP Interpersonal, released this past August. Today (Nov. 30), the 19-year-old shares a new single, “New Mercies,” produced by Mike Mogis (Cursive, Phoebe Bridgers).
“New Mercies” sees Janzen trying to sift through the rubble of her religious upbringing with frankness and warm benevolence. Her sincere, affecting voice is accented by folky minimal riffs as she grapples with the age-old question of a higher power with poignant metaphors (“Here lies the paradox, a shouting match with silent God / The push and pull of faith unseen, I nurse my bleeding unbelief”).
Says Janzen of the song’s origin:
I wrote “New Mercies” as a way to entertain my cynicism a little bit. I was feeling really spiritually lost (honestly when am I not?) and that’s what the song is about … a deep disconnect between my spiritual self and the faith I grew up with, and trying to find something to bring them together somehow. This is also my first song being released with a full band, and recorded in a real studio as opposed to a bedroom. Having a band really helped capture the frantic and frustrated energy of the lyrics and overall vibe of the song.
In 2019, Janzen will release her next EP, and perform at SXSW and Shaky Knees Festival.
Listen to “New Mercies” below.