Merci Raines has a rousing country-inspired pop anthem on her hands with "Smoke"

The Louisiana native today unleashes her new single "Smoke", hot off the heels of her performances at SXSW last week. One of a handful of new tracks that will surface soon, "Smoke" is a statement piece, if nothing else. While Raines is certainly in the pop sphere, it's the folk and country influences that can be heard in Raines' new track, that make her a really exciting prospect.

With a hook that heavily relies upon a guitar riff and those all-important drums, rather than Raines' vocal, "Smoke" is an off-kilter, but altogether invigorating listen. Inspired by the shadow-ridden, forgetten places in the South (of the USA) you can expect more dark-country-pop on her forthcoming self-titled EP due out 31 March.