H.N.Y.B is the new single from New Zealand born artist and producer Merk. The title is the acronym for the songs ear-worm chorus Happy New Year Baby, and reminiscent of bands like Phoenix and Porches, the songs stark minimalism and hypnotic, woozy synths provide the counterpoint to the sweetness in the reflective lyrics and vocal.

Merk (real name Mark Perkins) began his career as a touring member of New Zealand bands Tom Lark and Fazerdaze, before releasing his debut album Swordfish in 2017. Swordfish was recorded from a makeshift studio in a store basement at Roundhead Studios, where Perkins was learning the craft of recording and producing under the stewardship of New Zealand’s greatest musical export Neil Finn. Merk would stay late after work, writing songs and applying his newfound engineering skills to make a record that is full of indie-pop gems. Swordfish went on to win Best Debut Album at the Taite Music Prize (New Zealand’s equivalent of the Mercury or Polaris Prize), and led to tours with Cub Sport, Marlon Williams and Julia Jacklin in Australia and NZ. Now with new music under his belt, Merk is undertaking his first global release via Humblebrag Records/AWAL.