The soul man from Sydenham

VC Pines comes equipped with a pink buzz cut and grillz. But the man behind the punk persona has a silk smooth voice that takes its influence from the likes of the Isley Brothers, Bobby Womak and The Temptations, writes Claudia Lee.

Jack Mercer, 29, from Sydenham, has just played at Boardmasters following a stint of gigs at festivals including Secret Garden Party, and Glastonbury.

He’s also just about to go on tour, which will include an appearance at London’s Lafayette in Goods Way, King’s Cross on September 15.

Mr Mercer said: “I grew up listening to soul with my dad.

“That’s the big influence on my vocals, whereas my music is more alternative.

“There is a big punk influence in there, especially in some of the delivery – that comes from Iggy Pop, The Stranglers and Joy
Division.”

Previous singer for the pop-rock band the Carnabys, Mr Mercer said he felt like he had real “freedom” with his “VC Pines project”.

He said: “I used to try and please everyone, but now I’m just me.”

Mr Mercer suffers from frontal lobe epilepsy, which effects his memory.

He gets seizures, which stem from certain memories.

He said: “It stops me in my tracks, but I try to use that in my music as a starting point.

“It means a lot of my music is centred around nostalgia. I like to really dig into those nostalgic feelings.”

Diagnosed at 17, Mr Mercer said: “I didn’t know what was happening to me. I thought I was losing my mind.

“Then getting diagnosed it was quite nice to put a name to whatever was going on.

“I learnt how to deal with it and eventually how to harness it.”

Mr Mercer believes his background of soul music and singing covers in pubs from a young age has allowed him to create music with “longevity.”

He explained: “My process is different to a lot of other contemporary artists – I focus on the songwriting rather than starting with a beat a producer has made.

“It always starts with the skeleton of a song on the piano, that way the songs stand up on their own, and if the production broke down I could still play it.”

There is a sultry, immersive feeling in songs like Running, created by a blend of soft vocals and atmospheric soundscapes.

His live performances are just as enticing, if not more direct.

When he’s up on stage, his movement, fashion and stage presence are a clear portrayal of his punk influences.

He said: “I love performing live – I’ve been doing it for nearly 15 years.

“Live shows are the rock of what I do. If I didn’t have them I would feel lost.”

VC Pines’ debut album MRI comes out on September 8.

 

Picture: VC Pines. Pictures: Alex Rorison