Since she first started releasing music in 2022, Kaiyah Mercedes has consistently surprised herself and her audiences with the ability to seamlessly (and dramatically) shift between genres. Mercedes’ newest single, MANIC!!!, demonstrates this yet again with the singer-songwriter’s first dip into the world of indie-pop rock.
“I’ve never wanted to confine myself to a genre. I’ve never wanted to be held in a box,” the 18-year-old tells Not Safe For Queers. “But at the same time, it never really felt like an active decision that I made in my creative journey; I just flow wherever the music takes me. If I write a song and it feels like it should sit somewhere more jazz-y, or more punk-y, then that’s where I’ll go, and I’m not afraid to do so.”
So while Mercedes’ previous releases (including her first two albums, Hindsight and Trying To Hate You) leant more folk- and pop-inspired, her newest track leans firmly into the world of alternative pop rock, inspired by the likes of Paramore, The Buoys, and even Olivia Rodrigo.
More than that, however, MANIC!!! was written, recorded, and produced as a pop rock anthem because of the track’s subject matter.
“It’s a dramatized—almost satirical—version of a manic episode which is why lyrically and production-wise it’s very heightened,” Mercedes explains. “It just felt right, to have a more rock-influenced sound for a song about a manic episode.”
The artist, who has been diagnosed with autism and ADHD and who has experienced manic episodes in the past, explains that this track has been both a coping mechanism, and an avenue through which to better connect with her audiences.
“I made the decision very early on to not shy away from personal experiences—especially mental health,” Mercedes begins. “Mental health issues affect so many people, and they go so under-recognised, so if I can be a voice for people (even if that’s releasing a song they relate to), then I want to do that.”
And from the reception of MANIC!!! it certainly sounds like Mercedes’ audiences are resonating with the singer’s vulnerabilities. “People have just seemed to love it,” she beams.
“And, you know, when I played it before it was released at shows, people really loved it. I had a few people comment about how it was going to hit home, how much they were going to relate to it. So, I’m glad that people are loving the recorded version, too.”
Moving forward, Mercedes announces that she’s sticking with a similar vibe for her upcoming releases, promising that, “I’m going into some really, really raw stuff in the future.”
Kaiyah Mercedes’ new single, MANIC!!! is out now.
To celebrate the track, Mercedes is also throwing a release party at the Bergy Bandroom in Brunswick on April 6. Tickets on sale now.