Last year, I had the pleasure of premiering a new single by Me for Queen (aka Mary Erskine). She made a big enough impression – “The combination of rich poetic lines and one of most beautiful, emotive voices I’ve heard in a long time make Me for Queen stand out in any crowd.” With her new single Loose End, also the title track of her forthcoming debut solo album and our Song of the Day, that statement still stands. We hope you enjoy the accompanying music video from one of the UK’s most exceptional new talents. Video producer: Grant Taylor / song producer: Jim Wallis.
Mary shared the following thoughts on the song:
Buying Logic (music software) in 2016 changed my life! It’s had a huge impact on this record as I’ve been able to make demos at home and build up an idea-board for each song before going into the studio.
The album is the product of me moving away from London for a spell to clear my head and see what was left at the end.. Loose End was the last song I wrote, having thought the album was finished…
I was just messing around on the guitar one afternoon then started singing the chorus then about half an hour later had finished it. Which is unusual for me…
Lyrically it really seemed to pull together a load of things on the album as well, really satisfyingly and basically by accident, so I suddenly realised maybe I had an album title in there too…
I was thinking about the “Desiderata” poem, for some reason, as well as this general time in life where I find myself and a lot of friends having the same conversations.. It’s easy to sit fretting about what direction you’re headed in/whether you’re on the right track, in whatever walk of life. Having left London and a “proper” job, even though I’m far away from friends and family I strangely feel more available, emotionally – and this song is sort of reaching out to anyone that is in that fretting space (myself included!) – it’s about trusting that if you carve out a bit of space in your life to let your mind noodle, even if it feels scary, that is often where the good stuff lies…
Mary started 2018 with a Celtic Connections show supporting Chris Wood, toured Germany in May, and will tour the UK in September, which will culminate with a full-band show at London’s 1000 Island on the 3rd October.
The album is due for release on Friday 7th September (see dates below), the culmination of a long and cultured musical journey.
“It pretty much sums up my approach this last year where I’ve tried to carve out some space to let my mind noodle, removing as many demands on my time in order to see what that could make room for. Sometimes the not-knowing, the unscheduled, un-routined is where the good stuff lives.” – Me For Queen
Pre-order the album (and get a FREE download of the single) at www.pledgemusic.com/meforqueen
Live Dates
30th July: Camden Assembly (supporting Tusks)
9th Sep: The Lighthouse, Deal
12th Sep: Crofters Rights, Bristol
13th Sep: The Old Stables, Cricklade
15th Sep: West Malvern Social Club, Malvern
20th Sep: Cafe #9, Sheffield
21st Sep: Big Comfy Bookshop, Coventry
30th Sep: Hug and Pint, Glasgow
1st Oct: Leith Depot, Edinburgh
2nd Oct: The Castle, Manchester
3rd Oct: 1000 Island, London