🔥🤘 MASSIVE THANK YOU TO THE MERCURY SEED! 🤘🔥
A huge shoutout to New York’s finest riff-slingers THE MERCURY SEED for taking the time to sit down with us here at The Riff Report! 🖤
From gritty, old-school rock ‘n’ roll vibes to that modern swagger, these lads are flying the flag for proper, no-nonsense rock music — and we’re absolutely buzzing to have them featured on the site 🎸⚡
👉 Proper sound bunch. Proper killer tunes. Proper Riff Report approved.
Stay loud, stay riffy… and keep your eyes peeled, because this is a band you’ll be hearing a LOT more about 👀🔥
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Zero Apologies. 🐉🤘
SW: Scott White (guitars); VL: Volker Lemmer (vocals)
🔥 ORIGIN STORY: WHERE DID THE SEED SPROUT?
How did The Mercury Seed come to life — late-night jam, chance meeting, or destiny written in riffs?
SW: You could call this The Mercury Seed 2.0; after an extended break starting around 2016, Volker and I decided we wanted to start writing new music and see where it could go. The band was not very active at that point, so writing was our creative outlet. When we had enough material that we felt was strong enough to be heard, we assembled the rest of the musicians/contributors and entered the studio to flesh it all out.
VL: It startedquite organically with me auditioning for a band that was truly just jamming. That lineup has certainly morphed over the years – but it’s crazy that Scott has gone from Producer extraordinaire, to joining on guitar, to becoming an amazing songwriting partner.
Who first said, “this needs to be a proper band”?
VL: I would agree with Scott in that realizing that writing and playing music was my lifeblood made it easy to start work on new music for what could be called Mercury 2.0.
Where does the name come from — and what does it mean to you?
VL: After hearing a lot of terrible names from all parties involved – I was thrilled when I finally won the ‘naming game’ with The Mercury Seed. The name can mean whatever people want it to, but it’s certainly not normal or expected.
At what point did you realise you’d tapped into something bigger than just classic rock nostalgia?
SW: We’ve always had good traction from our live shows and our writing. When we were most active as a LIVE band, we found that we could add newly written songs to the set and within a couple of shows, people would be singing the words and requesting the new ones. With our newer releases, we get a lot of positive feedback from those who stream it and discover it through our social channels. It’s extremely rewarding to get that positive response and it makes us feel that we are connecting beyond our own needs to be creative.
VL: I think it’s because of the feedback we get from so many people on songs that are all over the map in our catalog.
⚡ SOUND, SWAGGER & THROWBACK HEAT
You’ve got that gritty ‘70s DNA running through you — what draws you to that era?
SW: I think that in part, it’s what we were first exposed to when we were young. The music created in the late 60s and 70s and later in the 80s, has stood the test of time. And when the trends of the day are stripped away, you’ve still got a groove, a riff, and lyrics that you connect to. I think many of our songs would sound right in place in the 70s, with just a different sonic presentation.
VL: That’s quite a compliment. I listen to more new music than I do anything else. But I’d have to say if there was a decade I wish I could have lived through (and been in a rock band), it would have been the 70’s. In my opinion, the greatest decade for music. I always say I was born late.
How do you stop it becoming imitation and make it feel fresh and dangerous?
SW: Obviously modern production and sounds keep it fresh and current. Lyrically the messaging is of today – our experiences and relationships that have matured, yet still hold energy, excitement, and at times beautiful chaos. Musically, so much has evolved in musicality over time. Some things have been lost to time, and we try to echo some remembrances of older musical styles, but we also benefit from modern songs structures and playing style that keeps it current. And thankfully, since we are independent artists, we do not need to fit a specific genre or style, so we are free to create and forge our own path for each song.
VL: I’m so opinionated when it comes to what I do and don’t like in music – I police myself on lyrics and melodies as well as if a riff sounds a little too familiar. As great as so many songs are from the 70’s and 80’s, some of the lyrical content would sound a bit absurd in 2026. But it doesn’t stop me from blasting some of those songs in the car with the windows down!
Which bands shaped your sound the most — and which ones sneak in unexpectedly?
SW: Certainly we take influences from the originators like Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones, and we benefit and absorb from the revivalists like The Black Crowes and Oasis, and we are also excited by current acts such as Rival Sons, Big Wreck and others. Hopefully we’ve been able to pay tribute to our influences, yet keep the songs evolving in style and presentation.
VL: I found out about most of my favorite artists well after their heyday… but what a thrill it was to find out Aerosmith had this amazing 70’s catalog to dig through. It was mind blowing! Humble Pie, The Faces, Kiss, Stones certainly shape some of our sound. And I think the things that sneak in are Elton John, Bill Withers, U2, The Verve. But I have noticed – whatever we end up doing always seems to sound distictly like The Seed!
If someone’s never heard you before, what track are you slapping on first and saying “THIS is us”?
SW: I would say our current single The Lettingher Inn captures us in a nut shell. That or Cat on a Highwire from our last record – if you dig those, then you’ll love the catalog.
VL: That’s hard because I love all my babies. haha BUT – a great place to start is X’s for O’s …. and then drop the needle of Pictures on a Phone.
🎤 VOCALS, RIFFS & ATTITUDE
That raspy, emotive vocal style — is that something that came naturally or developed over time?
VL: It actually came very naturally. Most people assume that rasp comes from smoking, which is probably one of the few things I haven’t done to damage my voice and health.
What’s more important to you: the riff, the groove, or the vocal hook?
SW: I think each song may benefit from a strong riff, or lyric, or vocal cue. I don’t know that every songs needs to have all elements being 10 out of 10. Sometimes a killer lyric and can elevate an otherwise very simple song. When you do have all of the above – great riff, great groove, great lyric and great vocal delivery, well, then you have a hit!
VL: Great songs can come from anywhere. Some of our songs come from a groove or a vocal hook. But there’s nothing better than just writing to a kick-ass riff.
Is there a song where everything just clicked — the one that defines The Mercury Seed?
SW: I would say Cat on a High Wire off A Boy and His Bucket – great bluesy, greasy riff, driving groove with a swing, great vocal delivery, great lyrics, great instrumentation. I think that would be the classic Mercury Seed song.
VL: Left on the Right was one that just happened very fast and is a great way to kick off the new album. But I’ll go along with Scott and say Cat is pretty special.
Do you write to hit hard live, or to build something deeper on record?
SW: I love being in the studio and creating and nurturing the music – from writing to recording parts and trying different instrumentation and players to bring that special sauce. That’s my favorite part of the process. Playing live is fun, and I approach it very differently. I cut myself a lot of slack live, because it’s a moment in time and presentation is very important. But in the studio, I’m a bit more of a perfectionist.
VL: I just write as a release of what’s going on in my life (and in my head). Because I enjoy high energy music – some of it naturally hits hard LIVE. But sometimes a slower song can kick you in the teeth just as much as a faster song. With Scott behind the board, we’ve certainly upped our game on what’s been committed to tape.
🧠 LYRICS: REAL LIFE, NO FILTER
Your lyrics tap into real-life grit — how personal do you go when writing?
VL: Well, I like to think of myself as a storyteller. But truth be told I write from personal experience. The good, the bad and the ugly.
Do you ever hold anything back, or is it all out there?
VL: I try to find clever ways to tell these stories – or put an interesting twist on the lyrics. But the songs are my diary in a way. And I won’t get a chance to rewrite it in the next life.
What themes keep pulling you back when you sit down to write?
VL: Probably personal relationships give me the most inspiration. I just do a little less self sabotaging now a days. But sometimes the music or riff inspires the lyrical direction. So it goes where it goes.
Is there a lyric you’re especially proud of — one that still hits every time?
VL: I hope that the lyrics mean different things to different people. But my favorite lyrics on the new album are actually on the opening track, Left on the Right. “Don’t talk in tongues that sound like twisted rhymes”
🎸 ALBUM-ORIENTED ROCK IN A STREAMING WORLD
You’re leaning into that classic Album-Oriented Rock feel — is the album still king for you?
SW: Absolutely. I like collections of songs that are related and that exist in a point in time. For all of my favorite records, I always have some deep cuts that speak to me. With that said, I am coming around to singles and releasing music song by song. That allows for music to be continually created, as opposed to waiting years to write, record, mix and distribute a full album.
VL: We’ve been leaning into releasing more singles before putting out the full album. Obviously, the way the music industry works today is very different. So everyone is trying whatever they can to actually keep themselves out there for as long as possible. And each new single is something to focus on, when it comes to streaming and social media. But I have always loved the power of the LP. Most of my favorite songs are rarely the ‘singles’ that record labels deemed the most commercial.
How do you approach building a record — as a journey or just a collection of bangers?
SW: We usually have a handful of song sketches – maybe not entirely fully formed, but a basic structure that we can play start to finish. When we schedule studio time, we get as much done as we can and if there is time left over, we start throwing ideas around which, if we’re lucky, are good enough to complete right then and there. Modern DAWs allow us to edit and re-arrange after the fact if need be. Time is limited, so sometimes we’ll do a basics session to track drums and guide instruments, and as we are overdubbing we can start writing new material, and jump back into the studio for round two!
Do you think modern listeners still connect with full albums the way they used to?
SW: I don’t think so – and I think that’s a shame in a way. I can’t imagine Led Zeppelin being only a collection of random songs; each record of theirs has such an identity even if the songs may be very different. Same thing with Pink Floyd, the context of the record informs so much more than just a collection of songs. But today, the modern lives of people, attention span and formats for listening, make records as a complete entity less viable. It’s a shame, but you can’t stop “progress”.
VL: Younger people probably don’t need or crave full albums the way we used to. That started to change the minute we moved from the CD to streaming. I agree with Scott – it’s a bit of a shame. But hopefully people can still play a record (hopefully our new record) straight through when they’re on a long drive. Preferably with the windows down and the volume up.
Vinyl, streaming, live — where does your music feel most at home?
SW: I would love our music to be consumed by an active listener in the format of an album collection. Either at home with a great music playback system or in the car on a long drive. Of course, truth is that most will listen via streaming on ear buds. I’ll take the listeners however they come, as long as they listen and connect with the music.
VL: I’m happy just to have people enjoy what it is we do. It’s fascinating to me when I see where in the world our music is being played. In that way – streaming and the internet has opened things up to independent bands.
🎤 LIVE SHOWS & PURE CHAOS
Describe a Mercury Seed gig in three words.
SW: Your Attention Please!
VL: Release the Hounds!
What’s the moment in your set where you know the crowd’s locked in?
SW: I think if we start right, its at the end of the first song. We try to start strong. Drive it hard, upbeat, with harmony vocals and let the music do the talking! If we deliver it right, we can control the narrative from there.
VL: When Scott rips their head off with his guitar playing.
Have you had a proper “this is why we do it” live moment yet?
SW: I think its when we hear requests for particular songs from the crowd. That’s when we know they’re invested, and that whatever we are doing is speaking to them with the common language of music.
VL: There have been moments when I’ve gotten lost in a song. Just an out of body experience that reminds you why you wanted to start a band.
Any gigs where everything nearly fell apart… but somehow became legendary?
SW: Haha! Well I remember playing a gig in NYC with a drummer, who shall not be named, talking full advantage of the free bar tab, and playing parts with one arm on the drums and holding an ever-emptying pitcher of beer with his other. But I think the most legendary gig we played was the one that my soon to be girlfriend first came to; while we had met before, it was the first time we kissed….so that was pretty legendary, I think!
VL: It’s always the drummer that takes that train off the tracks.
🇺🇸 NYC ROOTS & THE MODERN ROCK SCENE
What’s it like coming up in the New York rock scene right now?
SW: There are some great mid-level venues and they command great crowds, but its tough to break into if you’re not a touring act. The smaller venues end up packing the night with multiple acts that may not be related in music or approach, which makes it less than ideal for fans that want a consistent experience for a night out. And from the band’s perspective, you’ve got to commit to playing regularly to build the fan base and the growth. You need to overcome challenging ‘sound situations’, traffic and all of the logistics that make major metropolitan cities tough for indie acts.
VL: I’d have to say – it’s not ideal. NYC isn’t very good for smaller acts. But it’s certainly a great city to catch bands that fill the larger rooms.
Is there a hunger for classic-style rock in a modern city like NYC?
SW: There is – it’s a city of 8 Million people, there are at least ‘hundreds’ of rock and roll fans in there – haha! It about getting the word out and motivating people to come out and invest in you for the night.
VL: There’s still a hunger for good music.
Which bands around you deserve more noise?
VL: I’m a big fan of James Maddock. He works his ass off playing the NY/NJ circuit. Great songs – great voice. And is now doing some touring in Europe.
Do you feel like you’re part of a revival — or doing your own thing entirely?
SW: We certainly feel in good company with other bands that are making a go of it. Again, consistency with quality or song writing and performance is important, and while there may be many bands that can play decent and rock out, we hope that our consistency of quality, more recent steady output of material and variety of influences and textures sets us apart.
📀 WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE MERCURY SEED?
What are you working on right now — new singles, an album, world domination?
SW: We are about to release our newest album. The four singles we have pre-released have done well so far, and we hope that people will appreciate the album cuts as well. We have several new songs that we are working towards being developed to completion, and hope that we get back to the studio to complete them. And we do have plans for more gigging in our local area.
VL: We’re into the new album right now. Looking at a May release for the entire LP. But we do have some new songs in the works already. So there’s plenty more to come.
How do you want the next release to push your sound forward?
SW: I think by expanding on our influences and including more support musicians that can bring their own flair and influences. It’s really magic to be able to work with musicians who come from a different place musically, but who can fit into what your vision is. That mixture always yields results that you weren’t necessarily expecting, but that lifts the sound and presentation to higher level.
Dream tour or support slot — who are you sharing the stage with?
SW: Black Crowes without a doubt. I think our songs would be appreciated by the crowd – I think we’d fit right in.
VL: I’d love to play some dates with Rival Sons here…. or The Trews in Canada!
Where do you see the band in the next couple of years?
SW: Again I think our focus will be creating new music, exploring musical and lyrical ideas with no holds barred. While I would love for the music to be accepted and embraced by as many people as possible, in the end to doesn’t matter. I take satisfaction in the ability to create something from nothing, and as long as I connect to it, that’s good enough for me. I’ll listen to it at 80 years old and I will smile with pride.
🍺 RIFF REPORT ESSENTIALS
Pre-gig drink?
SW: Markers Mark on the rocks
VL: Kettle One and soda
Post-gig food?
SW: NYC Pizza!
VL: Eat after the gig
Who’s always late?
SW: Volker … NYC time is like being near a black hole
Who’s the biggest rock ‘n’ roll menace in the band?
SW: Volker by far! Menace may not be the right word, but he IS the embodiment of rock and roll with a smile and a great Varvatos wardrobe!
⚡ QUICKFIRE RIFF ROUND
Vintage tone or modern punch?
SW: An old guitar with a modern spirit!
Studio perfection or live grit?
SW: Studio Perfection
VL: Both! You better follow up that album with a damn good Live performance.
Big chorus or dirty riff?
SW: Dirty riff
VL: I think I agree with Scott!
One word that sums up The Mercury Seed right now.
SW: Expressive!
🔊 FINAL SHOUT
Why should someone drop everything and come see you live?
SW: To experience the pure joy of letting rock and roll stop time for an hour or two
What does rock ‘n’ roll mean to you in 2026?
SW: It means expression of all emotions – working them out and putting life into clarity
VL: It’s a Life Saver and a Time Machine.
Finish this sentence: “The Mercury Seed are…”
SW: Modern Purveyors of classic Rock & Roll!
VL: Oh…. I like that!!!!
🌆 🎸 THE MERCURY SEED — SOCIALS
Here’s where to stalk… I mean support… the band online:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themercuryseed
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themercuryseed
🐦 X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/themercuryseed
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themercuryseed
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0xMercurySeed
(search if link changes)
🌐 Official Website: https://www.themercuryseed.com
⚡ Why You Should Be Following Them (If You’re Not Already… WHAT’S OCCURRING?!)
This lot are serving up proper classic rock swagger with a modern bite – think smoky riffs, gritty vocals, and that late-night NYC bar energy 🍻🔥
If your playlist lives somewhere between Zeppelin grooves and Rival Sons attitude… you’re already late to the party, mun.
