Bruno Merz: "Whisper Turn" out 4 October 2017

“Whisper Turn” is an elegant, reflective number that glows with spare, but mellifluous acoustic guitar lines and Merz’s warm and hopeful vocals. I don’t think I’ve heard another artist who comes as close to sounding like Nick Drake as Merz does.. so much genuineness and heart in this track that I had to pinch myself” – Big Takeover Magazine

“Stunningly beautiful folk” – Music News Nashville
“A gem of an utmost delicate nature“ – Knox Road

“Add Merz to your ‘must have’s’ in folk” – The Music Ninja

“Nothing short of pure beauty and brilliance” – Riles Review
“An elegant, beautiful and intimate collection of pieces” – Music.net.nz

Softspoken singer-songwriter Bruno Merz has announced that he will be releasing a new single ‘Whisper Turn’ on October 4. This is the first track from the album ‘Whisper Turn’, which is expected for release in early 2018.
Undeniably himself, the music of Bruno Merz is an unaffected and pure representation of who he is. Influenced by Gillian Welch, Bob Dylan, Sufjan Stevens, Iron and Wine, Paul Simon, Julee Cruise, Ron Sexsmith, Gabriel Yared and Nick Drake, his lyrics communicate truths discovered through life’s gifts and tests. He inspires those who are lost to find what is missing, and to trust that it’s already there.

Born in New Zealand to Dutch parents, Bruno spent much of his childhood running wild in the bush, jumping out of classroom windows, and seeking adventure in his own imaginary world. His home was full of instruments and classical records, but he was most at home in the woods or by the sea. Teenage Bruno and his siblings were enthusiastic songwriters, forming bands with names that changed daily.

By the time he was twenty, Bruno had a degree in 2D animation, a large student debt, and a deep desire to see the world. With a cheap guitar on his back, he moved to France, where he worked on farms, yelling ‘allez mouton’ at the sheep, drinking wine in the sunshine and contemplating his own existence.  He earned just enough to make his way to Holland, where he knew the language and also had a few distant family friends.

Broke, lost, and alone, Bruno wandered the streets of Amsterdam, counting pennies for food, at times not knowing where he’d sleep at night. This experience inspired ‘Nine Sixteen’, the first song that would eventually make its way onto his debut album ‘Departing from Crowds’, a collection from his rambling days in Holland – a period of desperation and healing. He found work in animation and illustration in Amsterdam, as well as the first love of his life… and eventually his first heartbreak too.

Today, Bruno lives in the UK with his Canadian ballerina wife and spends his days writing and recording his songs. His popularity has grown worldwide following the success of his 2014 debut album ‘Highways’. The single “Emmeline” received millions plays on Spotify in the months following the release with well over 300,000 listeners per month. Since then, he has also written a classical score for the Northern Ballet’s production ‘Tortoise and the Hare’, which toured the UK and was televised by the BBC.

With his imminent move to settle down in Canada this year, Bruno certainly feels far from the guitar-toting twenty-something lost in Amsterdam so many years ago, though he still carries a deep trust in the universe, strength in his soul, and a need to promote peace and healing through his songs, connecting with what is ‘simple’ in an otherwise complicated world.

“This was inspired by the events of 2016 and a fresh realisation of how meticulously beautiful nature and this planet is. It’s a wake up call to humans and I hope an injection of hope and strength to those who are waking up to what really matters in life,” says Bruno Merz.

‘Whisper Turn’ will be available through the typical music platforms, but can already be found on Bruno Merz’s Bandcamp page.

CREDITS