EllaMcDs Presents: MERCY'S CARTEL

MERCY’S CARTEL:

Based in Bristol and London, Mercy found herself relating more to the “geezers” as opposed to the ultra-glam ladies of her hometown, Brentwood in Essex. First introduced to music as young as eight years old, she started playing the double bass in her local church and orchestra.

Feeling her most natural self on stage, Mercy’s Cartel and her band have supported artists such as Kojey Radical, Tom Grennan, Tirzah, Etta Bond, Yazmin Lacey and more. In addition, she performed at established festivals such as Dot to Dot, Glastonbury (via Silver Hayes), Kendal Calling and Giles Peterson’s We Out Here festival and was selected to open up for Ms Lauryn Hill, Grace Jones and IDLES at The Downs Festival.

Last summer, she was one of 10 black women selected to be part of Native Management, Nao and Mura Masa’s initiative to get more women of colour into touring careers. Experiencing a full circle moment during the course whilst speaking to one of her biggest inspirations Nao, Mercy now has her sights set sky-high. With new singles on the way and an EP in the pipeline, she is excited to get her music out there and show audiences her progression and experimentation.

“What really drew me to her voice is how it can handle any style; Pop, R&B, Electronica, Funk, Jazz, it’s all there in this track, and she rides them all perfectly.” - Jack’s Saunders

https://open.spotify.com/artist/40zUW1LtekgXK3fjG6jHJv

https://www.instagram.com/mercyscartel/?hl=en

Olivia Rose:

20 year old singer songwriter from Bristol, Olivia Rose, is a dark horse. Small in stature yet her voice and lyrics bring much power.  She is inspired by the likes of Justin Timberlake, Sade and Nelly Furtado. Olivia has been writing since the age of 8 years old, and performing since the age of 9, she uses music as a form of therapy, expressing herself through her lyrics. Her music is a fusion of R&B, Trap and Pop, she works with producers who create the beats, specifically Mulade and has just started creating her own beats. In 2018, she performed on stage with Nine8 Collective at E1 London and will be performing at Love Saves The Day 2021.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0TiRArM5MxSef6ntzpRWoK

https://www.instagram.com/oliviarosemusic_/?hl=en

SULLKARI

Intertwining elements of his Moroccan heritage with the pop culture of his generation and those passed, Sullkari is paving the way for the queer youth of today with a unique sound that channels an uplifting energy that feels strong, powerful and sexy whilst simultaneously maintaining a certain vulnerability and softness. Drawing inspiration from artists such as FKA Twigs, Banks and Freddie Mercury, Sullkari fuses a skilled vocal range with an original edge and an honesty that is pervasive throughout all of his music. Sullkari’s music draws upon his personal journey with identity, self expression, love and loss and aims to inspire in others the power to own who you are and share it with pride.

https://www.instagram.com/sullkari/?hl=en

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5kkebNVYJCdYcKcz1VRR6l

EMMY

One-quarter of the female-led collective Concrete Jungyals, dBs grad EMMY has become a prominent figure in the fight against gender inequality in electronic music. Launched in 2017, the Bristol-based crew aims to empower people who identify as women and/or come from a minority background by giving them a platform to propel them into the music industry. They do this by broadcasting a diversity of selectors on 1020 Radio and Foundation FM as well as by presenting women artists at festivals across the country. In recent years, Concrete Jungyals have curated takeovers at Hospitality on the Beach, Boomtown, Love Saves the Day and Nozstock. More recently, the collective has taken on six resident DJs, for whom it will act as an agent moving forwards.