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Atlanta rap force Mercury drops break-up cut "RUNNING ROUND"

23 March 2022, 16:00 | Written by Laviea Thomas

Bouncing between avant-garde electronica and smooth R&B-induced trap, 21-year-old artist Mercury introduces her new project, Tabula Rasa, with “RUNNING ROUND”.

Making a name for herself at just 19 with an appearance in Rico Nasty’s video for “STFU”, Mercury is now making her own idiosyncratic footprint across. In her latest project, Tabula Rasa, the rapper is set to introduce 808 beats with hyper-pop tendencies, and the latest taster, “RUNNING ROUND” sees her fluctuate between reality and cartoon animation. It’s a short and sweet cut with exhilarating basslines, ride-along lyrics, and literal chases – a cycle of adrenaline-induced highs.

"To me, tabula rasa feels like the beginning of change,” Mercury comments. “This project just shows different aspects of me, and I really feel like I’ve grown with this project and found myself with it. I'm excited for everyone to experience it in their own way."

Making her debut in 2021 with trap-induced mixtape MERCTAPE, the project saw Mercury lay her cards on the table with cutting-edge production and effortless flow. Fast forward a year, and she is onto her next project, and it’s an elevating step, to say the least. Slowly entering the dance music scene, across "RUNNING ROUND”, Mercury welcomes sturdy drum and bass tendencies with dashes of liquid techno and pop.

The accompanying music video pictures numerous arguments with a partner, accompanied with lyrics emphasising Mercury’s yearning to escape. Ultimately kissing goodbye to a toxic relationship to embark on a brand-new chapter, the artist explains “RUNNING ROUND”, in her own words as “a big fuck you to my toxic ex and all those other shitty relationships.”

Discussing her influences and thought process behind the music video, Mercury tells BEST FIT, "The video came from wanting to express how I felt about my ex through other people. So, I gathered my friends and made them argue. My homie Salim Garcia shot it, I directed, and we had some animation based on Run Lola Run and Squid Game."

Simultaneously celebrating the end of an unhealthy relationship and the beginning of a new dawn, the track is a perfectly introspective introductory to Tabula Rasa. It’s a new and refined project that sees Mercury build a platform for her new music to thrive.

"RUNNING ROUND" is out now with the new project Tabula Rasa set for release on 20 April. Find Mercury on Instagram.
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