“This is a collection of stories about Betrayal, Murder, Injustice, and Corruption. It’s not just happening in Ireland, it’s happening around the world and we’re supposed to just take it lying down?” Meryl Streek.
Punk producer performer Meryl Streek has announced his second album Songs For The Deceased produced by Daniel Doherty of Dublins Darkland Audio Recording Studio. It’s set for release on 25 October through Venn Records, a label renowned for picking up talent early releasing the likes of Marmozets, Bob Vylan, Wargasm and High Vis. In addition Meryl Streek has shared new single ‘Paddy’. It’s an intensely personal track, inspired by his uncle who lived his life by his own terms. An obviously inspirational individual, the emotion and respect is overwhelming. It may not be as overtly political as previous singles however the undercurrent is there, relating that he “knew full well how backwards this place was run.”
Born and raised in Dublin, Meryl Streek remembers his childhood in Ireland fondly. “Growing up it was great,” he says. “I had a lot of family around me and things were good, we were a working class family of independent screen printers.” During the leaner and more difficult years that followed, he grew up and the world changed around him. He lost several family members, and austerity closed in on the country. As the recession hit and work became steadily thinner on the ground, he moved to Canada, a 7 year experience that shaped Meryl Streek both as a person and as an artist, as he explains, “Seeing how countries work outside of Ireland, and seeing how unfair Ireland’s work ethic and living situations are, I came back here fuelled to try and make a change.” The result was the astonishing debut album 796 which shone a light on the harrowing discovery of 796 bodies of children in a septic tank at Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Taum, Ireland, a maternity home for unmarried mothers and their children run by Catholic nuns. It will be intriguing to hear second album Songs For The Deceased. Meryl Streek has confirmed instores and headline shows for the autumn in support of the albums release. Full listings below and tickets go on sale on Friday 5 July at here.
Meryl Streek Album instores and signings
October
25 – Just Dropped In, Coventry
26 – Venus Vinyl, Norwich
27 – Banquet, Kingston (Fighting Cocks)
28 – Pie and Vinyl, Southsea
29 – The LP Cafe, Watford
Meryl Streek Live Dates
July
11 – 2000 Trees festival, Cheltenham
August
4 – Rebellion festival, Blackpool
October
17 – 18 – Left of the Dial festival, Rotterdam
November
7 – Newcastle – Lubber Fiend
8 – Manchester – Soup Kitchen
9 – Sheffield – Hallamshire Hotel
10 – Southampton – Joiners
12 – London – Lower Third
13 – Brighton – The Hope & Ruin
14 – Bristol – Crofters
15 – Birmingham – Actress & Bishop
For more information on Meryl Streek please check their facebook and instagram.
