Look Me In The Eye

Dancing in the lively afterglow of Perfect Body, Mermaiden’s internationally acclaimed Flying Nun debut, a new flame burns. The Wellington-based trio now approach 2019 with an eagerly awaited follow up. Enter the depths of their new album, Look Me In The Eye. Earmarked by the trio’s April split single release You Maintain The Stain / Cut It Open, the group (made up of friends Lily West, Gussie Larkin and Abe Hollingsworth) are in new terrain. Exploring power and control in a confronting new lens, the trio are focused on the gatekeepers and dominators of the world; dissecting their power, one song at a time. Recorded with long-time Mermaidens collaborator, audio engineer James Goldsmith, Look Me In The Eye sees the band pushing new sonic boundaries in a body of work that is as severe and progressive as it is vibrant and exhilarating. At the heart of the record lies the thematic exploration of female voices, as co-lead vocalists Larkin (guitar) and West (bass), with dynamic support from Hollingsworth (drums) expose embedded motifs of exterior masks, human relationships and power dynamics with unflinching fervour. The voices and perspectives of both frontwomen give shape to the record with equal footing, creating a dialogue around female collaboration and friendship in an ode to the complexities of the human experience.