Earlier this month, VC Pines brought some huge news to his fans by announcing his forthcoming debut album, titled “MRI”, alongside the release of a brand new single, titled “Colours”, and he also revealed that he plans to go out on a UK headline tour in September. Set to be busy in the coming months, VC Pines is ready to showcase the star that he is. The release of his single, “Colours”, acts as the follow-up to his previous single “Dangling”.
Jack Mercer, known as VC Pines (Violet Coloured Pines), is a talented and introspective alt-soul singer-songwriter whose evocative storytelling delves deep into the realms of love, loss, and the nocturnal allure of London. Building upon the success of his acclaimed EPs, namely “Concrete” (2021), “Skully” (2020), and “Indigo” (2019), Jack is poised to unveil his highly anticipated debut VC Pines album. Titled ‘MRI’, this forthcoming release draws inspiration from Jack’s personal experiences with temporal lobe epilepsy, using brain scans and x-rays as symbolic motifs. With alluring singles from the upcoming album, like “Dangling” and “Running”, already making waves on BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6Music, VC Pines went on to grace the prominent stage, The Great Escape, and he is set to also perform on the Secret Garden Party festival stage, mesmerizing audiences with his soulful artistry and profound storytelling. He has already made a huge impact with his tracks “Taste Your Love” and “See You Soon” gaining over a million streams on Spotify, with the former being his most-streamed track on the platform, at 2.1 million streams, while the latter isn’t far behind at 2 million. His rising success and reliability continue to shine as he furthers his career in music.
His debut studio album, “MRI”, is set to be released on 8 September 2023, and the title comes as no surprise as he has been using brain scans and x-rays in his imagery for the past few months. He has recently been diagnosed with epilepsy, after suffering from seizures since he was 17 years old, and so his familiarity with MRI scans and the sound that they make have come to a full head as he has received his diagnosis, and so it’s quite fitting that he releases his debut album under this title.
Speaking about the new LP, VC Pines said, “‘MRI’ encapsulates the shifts and the scoops that my brain goes through on a daily basis. It covers themes of neurology, love, jealousy, addictions, confusion, nurture and most of all nostalgia. I wanted the opening track, ‘Chamber’ to feel and sound like a seizure. It’s warm and welcoming and soft, much like the pre-sensations I have, but stitched to it is the huge juxtaposition of an MRI scan, stabbing into your ears and carving mental scars like some aggravated, untamed beast until it eventually falls asleep. The album rises and falls, a bit like growing up in London. Sometimes you feel like jumping out into the world or out the window, and other days you need to dive down and be alone in your thoughts. As an independent artist, creating this was a difficult but rewarding process, especially being able to retain full creative control. It’s tough exposing yourself and your insecurities on a record, but I really feel like a weight has been lifted.”
VC Pines releases his new single, titled “Colours”
Alongside the reveal of his upcoming debut studio album, VC Pines doesn’t stop there, instead, he also released a new single, titled “Colours”. It’s an interestingly catchy track that allows him to infuse his various genre styles from indie to R&B to soul, bringing an awesome mixture that is set to stun listeners.
Written by Ed Thomas, Jack Mercer, and Ross MacDonald (of The 1975 fame), whilst it was produced by Ross MacDonald and Ed Thomas, “Colours” starts off with an intriguing sonic repeated beat that instantly lets the listener know that they’re about to hear a twisty but unforgettable track, and VC Pines certainly doesn’t let us down. Bringing an electronic vocal vibe mixed with his soulful storm runs, VC Pines brings an ’80s nostalgic vibe to this track that is full of heart and honesty. As the track hits the chorus, it takes on a more indie-pop vibe that effortlessly showcases his soulful emotional vocals that send chills to listeners. The track progresses, throwing in a variety of styles from jazz to a bit of alternative rock, and while it may be considered to be a clash of various styles, it’s rhythmically addicting and cleverly produced to highlight VC Pines in a huge welcoming spotlight. This is easily one of our favourite tracks we’ve heard this year.
Talking about the new single, “Colours”, VC Pines said, “‘Colours’ was written between myself, Ross MacDonald (The 1975) and songwriter/producer Ed Thomas. It takes the piss out of drunken calls to your ex. The mid-section hits like a sudden wave of regret that you’d feel the morning after until inevitably you get drunk again and your cares are thrown back out the window. I also wanted the song itself to sound and move like a London night bus journey on the top deck. Certain elements come in and out like the characters you encounter. We wrote the song at Ed’s studio, and later me and Ross built on the production together. I loved each step of the process and letting the tune grow and grow until it explodes into the fast-paced traffic that it is at the end.”
Stream “Colours” by VC Pines on Spotify here:
UK headline tour announcement which features 10 dates
On top of everything else, VC Pines also revealed that he’ll be going out on tour in September and October for his own 10-date headline tour. As well as that, he is set to perform at a variety of festivals during the summer.
His headline tour is fittingly titled “The MRI Tour” and is likely set to promote his debut album which will be released on 8 September 2023. The forthcoming UK tour features a total of 10 dates, with VC Pines set to kick it all off on 12 September 2023 at Brighton’s The Hope & Ruin venue and wrapping it all up on 4 October 2023 at Manchester’s Yes venue. Tickets can officially be bought here.
As for his festivals, he is set to perform at Secret Garden Party, Boardmasters and many more. These festivals are set to keep him busy during the summer months of July and August.
The MRI Tour Dates:
- 12/09 Brighton, The Hope & Ruin
- 13/09 Birmingham, Hare & Hounds
- 14/09 Bristol, Rough Trade
- 15/09 London, Lafayette
- 29/09 Sheffield, Sidney and Matilda
- 30/09 Leeds, Hyde Park Book Club
- 01/10 Glasgow, The Hug & Pint
- 02/10 Edinburgh, Voodoo Rooms
- 03/10 Newcastle, Zerox
- 04/10 Manchester, YES
Festival Dates:
- 08/07 El Dorado Festival
- 09/07 Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul
- 21/07 Secret Garden Party
- 28/07 Rock Oyster Festival
- 29/07 Altitude Festival
- 06/08 Valley Fest
- 13/08 Boardmasters
Tickets for his UK headline show, titled “The MRI Tour”, are available to buy right now, from his official website and by clicking here. Festival tickets can be bought on their respective official websites.
“Colours”, by VC Pines, is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms, via Club Carousel. He is set to appear at a variety of festivals this summer, set to drop his official debut album “MRI” on 8 September 2023, and he is also set to go out on a UK headline tour in September and October.