“No one Actually Is aware of” fairly how, however Mergui has managed to determine himself as a formidable participant within the trendy indie pop music scene.
Stream: “Threat It All” – Mergui
2025 was solely a pair weeks outdated when indie pop artist Mergui bought issues going with the discharge of a brand new four-track EP, No one Actually Is aware of, on January seventeenth.
It was a certain signal that this was going to be a productive 12 months for Mergui, and he’s adopted by on that early promise by releasing an extra assortment of singles over the following months.
These embody “Purple Rose,” a tune he first wrote about 4 years in the past and had been tinkering with ever since till simply now; “Threat it All,” which he describes as “a mirrored image of all of the instances I’ve chosen love, artwork, and progress over consolation;” and a canopy of “Say One thing,” initially carried out by NYC pop duo A Nice Massive World.
Let me get this out of my chest
I needed you from the get go
Too many mutual buddies
So I stored it low
Your palms within my vest
I’d by no means let you know to let go
Despite the fact that it’s in all probability a multitude
We nonetheless can’t say no
All the best way as much as the twenty eighth ground
After which we closed the door
– “Threat It All,” Mergui
Such productiveness has been the norm for Jonathan Mergui, who makes use of his final identify as his onstage pseudonym, ever since he first launched his music profession with the 2019 launch of his debut EP, Ma Iyea. He’s continued to tour and produce ever since, whereas additionally getting to attain some opening slots for Bruno Mars and Maroon 5, and seeing his music featured within the standard online game The Sims and on the NFL’s GameDay Morning Present
He’s by no means reluctant to let his susceptible facet come by in his songs – he describes his current single, “Purple Rose,” as being “concerning the lengths we go to for love, even when it’s unreciprocated” – and the outcomes are evidently successful followers over.
Mergui shares extra of the secrets and techniques behind his excessive degree of output and inventive aptitude with Atwood Journal.
I wasn’t imagined to
Take it off, however typically
Associates get misplaced
There’s simply one thing about you
That makes me wanna threat all of it
You make me wanna threat it nevertheless it’s dangerous
‘Trigger I’d f* this up
However There’s one thing about you
That makes me wanna threat all of it
You make me wanna threat all of it
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:: stream/buy Threat It All right here ::
:: join with Mergui right here ::
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A CONVERSATION WITH MERGUI
Atwood Journal: Whenever you had been rising up, what helped to place you on the trail of changing into a musician?
Mergui: It positively began with my dad and mom. My mother’s a singer, so music was at all times an enormous a part of our home. And my dad used to make music too and play guitar; he and I might sing collectively on a regular basis. However I feel the actual turning level was after they helped me construct a little bit studio in my bed room. That’s once I began producing and writing by myself, and truthfully, I’d get fully misplaced in it. I keep in mind my mother knocking on the door at 3 a.m. pondering I’d gone lacking, and I used to be like, “Wait, I believed it’s like 6pm or one thing haha.” I’d overlook to eat, overlook to textual content individuals again. That room didn’t simply form my sound – it actually formed me.
You’re six years eliminated now out of your first EP. How would you summarize the interim interval and the artistic discoveries you’ve had alongside the best way?
Mergui: Wow, six years… that’s loopy. I nonetheless keep in mind making that first EP prefer it simply occurred. Since then, I’ve gone by so many alternative phases, each in life and in music. And truthfully, the most important factor I’ve discovered is extra about me. Each challenge pressured me to dig a little bit deeper and peel some layers down.. it makes me ask, “What do I truly wish to say?” Each challenge helps me cease making an attempt to impress different individuals and permits myself to be actual. I nonetheless have a protracted method to go, nevertheless it looks like I’ve already discovered a lot.
What are your ideas on a few of your most up-to-date initiatives from earlier this 12 months – No one Actually Is aware of, the “Say One thing” cowl, and many others.? What kind of artistic stride ahead do these initiatives characterize for you?
Mergui: No one Actually Is aware of continues to be one of many initiatives I’m most happy with. It felt like a mixture of one thing nostalgic and one thing tremendous private. On the time, I used to be asking myself plenty of questions – like, the place do I’m going subsequent? What’s the “proper” transfer? And this EP grew to become an area for me to course of all of that. Particularly right now, with social media always displaying everybody’s highlights, it’s simple to get caught up within the noise. I feel writing these songs and dealing on that challenge helped me block that out and deal with what’s true for me.
“Say One thing” has an entire totally different story. That cowl was truly one of many first issues that began my profession. I recorded it in my bed room studio and despatched it to my dad. With out telling me, he despatched it out to a bunch of TV manufacturing firms and that’s how I ended up on the music competitors television present that launched all the things for me. Quick ahead virtually 10 years, and I used to be on tour with Forest Blakk and began performing it once more, and other people actually related with it. So I believed, you recognize what? Let’s lastly put this one out into the world.
Let’s discuss your current single, “Purple Rose.” How did this tune come about for you? And what’s the that means behind “She received’t pretend a smile, even for a purple rose”?
Mergui: It’s sort of wild to assume this tune is lastly out! We truly wrote it virtually 4 years in the past. It was me, Noga Erez (an awesome artist and pal) and Ori Rousso (wonderful producer and additionally an excellent pal) who’re each unbelievably gifted. At that point, we had been writing a bunch of songs collectively, and “Purple Rose” was one which at all times stood out. Everybody I performed it for liked it, nevertheless it took some time to get it precisely the place we needed it.
Then randomly, The Sims reached out. They needed the tune for the sport and requested me to document it in Simlish, which is their made-up language. I didn’t develop up enjoying The Sims, however I knew how huge it was as a result of so lots of my buddies had been obsessed with it. Recording in Simlish was truthfully one of many coolest and funniest issues I’ve carried out in my profession.
As for the lyrics, it’s about loving somebody who doesn’t give that love again. You do all the things you possibly can for them, however sooner or later you must cease and ask – do they even deserve it? That line “she received’t pretend a smile, even for a purple rose” is about realizing that irrespective of how arduous you strive, some individuals simply aren’t going to fulfill you midway.
The visualizer for “Purple Rose” appears fairly minimal – simply you, one girl, and purple lighting. Was there a deeper that means behind that?
Mergui: Yeah, for certain. Should you look intently on the visualizer, there’s a transparent distinction between us. I’m shifting loads – dancing, reaching, making an attempt – and he or she’s completely nonetheless. Nearly frozen. That was the entire level. It displays the power of the tune: somebody giving all the things, and the opposite individual not giving something again.
Visually, I’m at all times drawn to minimalism. I’ve carried out extra over-the-top stuff earlier than, however I often come again to easy, clear, monochromatic vibes. There’s one thing highly effective in retaining it stripped down and simply letting the emotion breathe. I’m actually pleased with how this one turned out.
Your influences vary from Italian opera to 70s disco. How do you discover a method to carry all these worlds into your individual sound?
Mergui: It’s one thing I take into consideration on a regular basis, truthfully. I’ve at all times had tremendous broad style in music . I by no means simply listened to 1 style. It’s been all the things from pop, hip-hop and R&B to some British rock and so many alternative stuff. I went to an artwork faculty too, so I bought launched to plenty of stuff I may not have discovered in any other case, like music from the classical and jazz worlds.
For a very long time, I wasn’t certain how it might all come collectively. However now I get that the frequent thread is simply… me. My voice, my means of telling tales. It’s arduous however I strive to not assume when it comes to style anymore and simply chase no matter excites me and feels sincere.
When and the place did you open for Bruno Mars and Maroon 5? What did you’re taking away from these experiences?
Mergui: That was one of many craziest issues I’ve ever carried out. I opened for Bruno Mars in Tel Aviv in 2023, and for Maroon 5 the 12 months earlier than. Each exhibits had been surreal. To begin with, I grew up listening to Bruno and Maroon 5 on a regular basis. To say opening for them was a dream come true is an understatement. After which standing in entrance of 60,000 individuals and so they had been all singing my songs again to me was overwhelming in the easiest way.
However greater than that, it made me take into consideration what music actually does. It brings individuals collectively, irrespective of the place they’re from or what they’re going by. And it made me understand much more how a lot I wish to get to that degree myself. not only for the stage, however for the connection. I’ve at all times been about unity and peace, and I feel music is among the strongest instruments we’ve bought for that.
Something thrilling arising – new music, exhibits, and many others.? Particularly your newest single, “Threat It All”?
Mergui: Sure! “Threat It All” is a tune I’ve been dying to launch. It’s a kind of feel-good tracks and I really feel so related to the story in it these days truly. I’m so excited for individuals to listen to it. However that’s only the start. 2025 goes to be full of latest music. I’ve been engaged on plenty of stuff behind the scenes that I can’t wait to share.
I’m additionally actually centered on exhibits. I like being on stage, it’s the place I really feel most like myself. It brings collectively all of the issues I like: music, trend, dancing, and connecting with individuals. So yeah, it’s going to be an enormous 12 months. If anybody studying this desires to maintain up, observe me on socials and I’d like to see all of you at a present.