Cliffdiver Size Up Their Enemies On Latest Single "Lord Have Mercer"
Tulsa, Oklahoma's cliffdiver, continues to tease their sophomore record, birdwatching, with their third single, "lord have mercer." Taking the space to experiment was an integral part of cliffdiver's recording, and "lord have mercer" is the pop-disco-punk hybrid that comes out of that experimentation.
The track is an empowering call to arms about not taking anybody's shit—whether that's in a personal relationship or within an ever-problematic, male-dominated music industry. Summery, angst-infused guitar riffs, deep bass riffs, and solid percussion usher in co-lead singer Briana Wright's rich vocals, creating an alluring, enveloping sonic experience. On the sizzling chorus, Wright and bandmates call out the abuse doled out to them, biting back with the line, "How big a boy are ya?" and refusing to be a part of the cycle anymore, inspiring listeners in a similar situation to do the same.
This upbeat energy belies the message behind the single, Matt Ehler explains, "This is the first real "deep" track of the album lyrically. It's calling out abusers and manipulators of all kinds and is really the first time we've put out a song so aggressively doing that. It speaks about revenge and taking back your power as an individual. I think the contrast between the over-the-top poppiness of the music and the darker lyrical content really provide an atmosphere that sucks you in. This became a band favorite really quickly and knew it would become a single from the get-go. Bri's delivery throughout the song is undeniable, and I think it will be an anthem for anyone who's dealt with an abuser."
Following quickly on the heels of the two singles that the band shared last month, the anthemic "dayz gone" and the cheeky "black lodge breakfast burrito (limited time only)," as always, cliffdiver doesn't shy away from bluntly discussing the messy aspects of mental health struggles. They delve into the avoidance and isolation that accompany the darkness of depression. cliffdiver's upcoming LP birdwatching isn't the sound of everything getting better. It's a real-life take: Things get better, but they also get worse again, and better again, and worse again, and nobody will ever have it all figured out. In each snapshot, cliffdiver offers a companion for those ups and downs. "We can make changes for the better, so it doesn't hurt as bad as it used to," Duffy concludes. "Once we realize we're not the only ones that feel this way, you can say: Maybe the system is fucked, and maybe we're all fucked — but we're not alone."
Check out cliffdiver's latest single, "Lord Have Mercer," today!