Melbourne-based artist Merpire, aka Rhiannon Atkinson-Howatt, is turning up the heat with her new single “Premonition”.
The song blends ambient synths, sharp guitars, and James Seymour’s dreamy production, layering drama with euphoria. It’s Merpire’s first new release in four years, and she’s calling “Premonition” her “horniest song yet.”
She explains, “I was reading my first fantasy novel at the time, ‘The Name of the Wind’ by Patrick Rothfuss. The lyrics and scene-building of this song were inspired by the main-character in the novel and the way they felt about another character.
“The honest detail is achingly relatable. It got me thinking about the most intense moments of a crush. The lyrics just flowed from there, but it was a hard song to produce – it sounded like two different songs for a while. We kept at it and eventually James magically and skillfully sewed elements together to sound the way I was visualising the scene – kind of stalky, woozy and dramatic.”
The self-directed video was filmed in tropical Queensland during a lightning storm, which you can watch below.
Merpire first made waves with her Endless Chatter EP in 2018 and followed up with her debut album Simulation Ride in 2021, which debuted at #8 on the AIR Independent Label Album Charts. Her music has been lauded by BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders, NPR, NME, CLASH, triple j, and more.
“Premonition” was recorded at Melrose Place studios on Wurundjeri Country, co-produced and performed by Merpire and James Seymour (Pillow Queens, Elizabeth M. Drummond, Jacob Diamond), and mixed by Ali Chant.
After a huge 2024, with support slots alongside Los Bitchos and national tours with Magic Dirt, Bombay Bicycle Club, and more, Merpire’s gearing up for a standout performance at Brunswick Music Festival’s At the Altar of Us, celebrating queer talent alongside Ruby Gill and Porpoise Spit.
She’s also previously supported Julia Jacklin, Angie McMahon, Pillow Queens, Spacey Jane, Hockey Dad, James Bay (UK), and played at festivals like St. Jerome’s Laneway and PANAMA.
Merpire’s “Premonition” is out now.
