01Profile
A V C Pines Photo
V C Pines
Musician — London
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Jack Mercer aka VC Pines - London.
Describe your style in three words?
Japanese Americana British.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Pixies at a festival I can't remember the name of. Never thought I'd see them live, my girlfriend got us tickets. The 'golden circle’ tickets didn't sell out so security started giving them out halfway through so I got as close to Frank Black's face as I could and screamed his lyrics for an hour.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, he's a proper performer, writes incredible music, and the live arrangements are even better.
James Brown, His band were tight as.
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
I was really into the Mod/Northern Soul scene as a teenager, now everything's kind of moulded into one. I liked how everyone had their thing. I try to have my own thing these days. I'm really into post-WW2 Japanese photography at the moment, those guys captured an era of eeriness. It's called the Provoke Era thanks to Provoke Magazine.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Hunter S. Thompson - given an hour, I'm sure the ride would feel much longer. The man was a walking comic series.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Probably a flat party in Brighton, the room was literally bending, we nearly fell through the floor, it was great.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Barry Grint at Alchemy Mastering. He has mastered my work alongside a vast discography including Prince and Bowie to Slaves and Wolf Alice. The man has a special pair of ears!
VC Pines is Jack Mercer, the former frontman of The Carnabys, who has moved away from the realm of indie-rock and immersed himself in a well of alternative soul, poetry and punk performance. VC Pines released their Indigo EP on Friday 22 March 2019.
Find out more here.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
Talking Heads - 'Once In A Lifetime'.
A song that defines the teenage you?
Jamie T - 'Here's Ya Getaway'.
One record you would keep forever?
Hans Zimmer - 'You're so cool'.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
"There's three kind of people in this world,
that's why I know a change has gotta come
I say there's white people, there's black people and then there's my people."
'A Change Is Gonna Come' - Baby Huey. Baby Huey's version of Sam Cooke’s 'A Change Is Gonna Come' includes a spoken word verse, every second is worth listening to.
A song you wished you had written?
Jeff Buckley - 'So Real'.
Best song to turn up loud?
The Path Before Me - 'Buffalo Killers'.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Pile - 'Uncle Jill'.
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
Marvin Gaye - 'Trouble Man'.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
Charles Bradley - 'Victim Of Love'.
We're all victims after an all-nighter really aren't we?
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Ezra Collective - 'Pure Shade'
Mick Jenkins - 'Drowning' - (produced by Badbadnotgood)
Lafayette Afro Rock Band - 'Darkest Light'
Baxter Dury - 'Miami'
Beach Fossils - 'St Ivy'
Khruangbin - 'Evan Finds The Third Room'
Tom Waits - 'Chicago'
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Jack Mercer aka VC Pines - London.
Describe your style in three words?
Japanese Americana British.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Pixies at a festival I can't remember the name of. Never thought I'd see them live, my girlfriend got us tickets. The 'golden circle’ tickets didn't sell out so security started giving them out halfway through so I got as close to Frank Black's face as I could and screamed his lyrics for an hour.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, he's a proper performer, writes incredible music, and the live arrangements are even better.
James Brown, His band were tight as.
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
I was really into the Mod/Northern Soul scene as a teenager, now everything's kind of moulded into one. I liked how everyone had their thing. I try to have my own thing these days. I'm really into post-WW2 Japanese photography at the moment, those guys captured an era of eeriness. It's called the Provoke Era thanks to Provoke Magazine.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Hunter S. Thompson - given an hour, I'm sure the ride would feel much longer. The man was a walking comic series.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Probably a flat party in Brighton, the room was literally bending, we nearly fell through the floor, it was great.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Barry Grint at Alchemy Mastering. He has mastered my work alongside a vast discography including Prince and Bowie to Slaves and Wolf Alice. The man has a special pair of ears!
VC Pines is Jack Mercer, the former frontman of The Carnabys, who has moved away from the realm of indie-rock and immersed himself in a well of alternative soul, poetry and punk performance. VC Pines released their Indigo EP on Friday 22 March 2019.
Find out more here.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
Talking Heads - 'Once In A Lifetime'.
A song that defines the teenage you?
Jamie T - 'Here's Ya Getaway'.
One record you would keep forever?
Hans Zimmer - 'You're so cool'.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
"There's three kind of people in this world,
that's why I know a change has gotta come
I say there's white people, there's black people and then there's my people."
'A Change Is Gonna Come' - Baby Huey. Baby Huey's version of Sam Cooke’s 'A Change Is Gonna Come' includes a spoken word verse, every second is worth listening to.
A song you wished you had written?
Jeff Buckley - 'So Real'.
Best song to turn up loud?
The Path Before Me - 'Buffalo Killers'.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Pile - 'Uncle Jill'.
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
Marvin Gaye - 'Trouble Man'.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
Charles Bradley - 'Victim Of Love'.
We're all victims after an all-nighter really aren't we?
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Ezra Collective - 'Pure Shade'
Mick Jenkins - 'Drowning' - (produced by Badbadnotgood)
Lafayette Afro Rock Band - 'Darkest Light'
Baxter Dury - 'Miami'
Beach Fossils - 'St Ivy'
Khruangbin - 'Evan Finds The Third Room'
Tom Waits - 'Chicago'
VC Pines | Nervous (2019)
VC Pines | Garden Of The Year (2018)
VC Pines | Golden Gai (2018)