Listen: Conner Youngblood – “Mercury”

Dallas mastermind Conner Youngblood delivers another earnest, uncompromising tune in “Mercury”, the latest teaser from his forthcoming Confidence EP. The song stands as something of a contrast to lead single (and Best Fit favourite) “Confidence”. Where its predecessor was propulsive and exploratory, “Mercury” is both meditative and majestic.

“Mercury” seems, like other heavenly bodies, to rise and set. A capella vocals open the song like the sun peaking over the horizon, but they are quickly joined by swelling strings and, soon enough, it seems a veritable orchestra is warming up. Horns blow simple melodies, a banjo fingerpicks furiously along, a piano bumbles along on a few notes, a guitar feeds back, none of them in time, none of them in tune with another. The only through line in this musical jumble is a simple mantra:

“Imma cleave like slate/dip my hands in fire

Feel my eyes roll back in my skull/attack every thought I find

I should paint my face before I go outside

I’m gonna bathe in salt until my teeth go numb…devil in disguise.”

In the song’s final seconds, the instruments finally come together, prepared for a masterful performance. They’re unaware, it seems, that they’ve already given one.

Confidence is scheduled for release on 1 April.