// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the mermaidens say to the fish? You're fin-credible.
Mermaidens | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Wellington, New Zealand |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | Independent, Flying Nun |
| Members |
|
| Website | mermaidens |
The Mermaidens are an indie rock band from Wellington, New Zealand. The band are made up of trio Abe Hollingsworth, Gussie Larkin, and Lily West.
Having met in high school, Larkin and West released an acoustic demo in 2013, before being joined by Hollingsworth. The band released a further two demos in 2014 – Bones and O – before releasing their debut album, Undergrowth, in 2016.[1][2]
The band signed with Flying Nun Records for their next two albums; 2017's Perfect Body and 2019's Look Me in the Eye. Following Look Me in the Eye, the band parted with Flying Nun due to minor "frustrations with communication and not having a clear picture of finances."[3]
In 2020, Larkin had planned to move to Berlin, but was forced to remain in New Zealand due to COVID-19 lockdowns. Stuck in their homes, the band took the opportunity to write new music. Once reunited, the band initially planned to just release a new single, "Soft Energy", and then an EP, then two EPs, before eventually deciding to record an entire album.[4] Produced by The Phoenix Foundation's Samuel Flynn Scott,[4] they independently released their self-titled fourth album, Mermaidens, in 2023.[3]
Discography
[edit]Albums and EPs
[edit]| Title | Release | Peak chart position[5] |
Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | Aotearoa | |||
| Demo (EP) | 2013 | — | — |
|
| Bones (EP) | 2014 | — | — |
|
| O (EP) | 2014 | — | — |
|
| Undergrowth | 2016 | — | — |
|
| Perfect Body | 2017 | 28 | 7 |
|
| Look Me In The Eye | 2019 | 23 | 5 |
|
| Mermaidens | 2023 | 8 | 1 |
|
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||
Singles
[edit]| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot 20 Aotearoa[5] | |||
| 2015 | "Seed" | — | Undergrowth |
| 2016 | "Undergrowth" | — | |
| 2017 | "Lizard" | — | Perfect Body |
| "Satsuma" | — | ||
| "Sunstone (Onono Remix)" | — | Non-album single | |
| 2019 | "You Maintain the Stain" | 9 | You Maintain the Stain / Cut It Open (split single) |
| "Cut It Open" | 16 | ||
| "I Might Disappear" | 17 | Look Me In The Eye | |
| "Millenia" | 15 | ||
| "She's Running" | — | ||
| 2021 | "Soft Energy" | 13 | Non-album single |
| 2023 | "I Like to Be Alone" | — | Mermaidens |
| "Sister" | — | ||
| "Foolish" | — |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Work(s) nominated | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Taite Music Prize | Perfect Body | Taite Music Prize | Nominated | [6] |
| 2020 | Aotearoa Music Awards | Look Me In The Eye | Best Alternative Artist | Nominated | [7] |
| Taite Music Prize | Look Me In The Eye | Taite Music Prize | Nominated | [8] | |
| 2024 | Aotearoa Music Awards | "I like to be alone" | Single of the Year | Nominated | [9] |
| Mermaidens | Best Group | Nominated | |||
| Best Alternative Artist | Nominated | ||||
| People's Choice Award | Nominated | ||||
| 2024 Taite Music Prize | Mermaidens | Taite Music Prize | Nominated | [10] | |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Mermaidens". AudioCulture. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
- ↑ Smithies, Grant (1 October 2017). "Mermaidens: Risky riffs, not sweet strumming". Stuff. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
- 1 2 Reid, Graham (5 November 2023). "Mermaidens, Interviewed (2023): New album, new look, new beginnings". Elsewhere by Graham Reid. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
- 1 2 "How Mermaidens Made Their 'Magnum Opus' Fourth Album", Rolling Stone Australia, 13 November 2023, retrieved 4 May 2026
- 1 2 "Aotearoa Music Charts - Mermaidens". Official Aotearoa Music Charts. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
- ↑ "Taite Music Prize: finalists announced". RNZ. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
- ↑ "Aotearoa Music Awards: 2020 finalists announced". RNZ. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
- ↑ "Finalists announced for 11th Taite Music Prize". NZ Herald. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
- ↑ Lochrie, Conor (30 May 2024). "2024 Aotearoa Music Awards: All the Winners". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
- ↑ "Independent Music NZ Taite Music Prize 2024 Finalists Announced | NZ Music Commission". 5 March 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
External links
[edit]- Mermaidens official site, maintained by the band
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