NEWS
VC Pines announces new EP Viole(n)t Colour, drops new single with Josie Man
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Alternative soul artist VC Pines has announced his brand new EP Viole(n)t Colour, set for release on May 23rd through Believe. The announcement arrives alongside the release of his latest single, Made 2 Luv, a powerful collaboration with pop-soul singer Josie Man.
Following a string of acclaimed singles, including BREAK and need 2 breathe, Viole(n)t Colour sees VC Pines — the artistic alias of Jack Mercer — turn inward. The EP was written in the wake of burnout and emotional exhaustion after independently releasing his debut album MRI, managing two tours without a label or manager, and navigating personal upheaval. The result is a raw and intimate body of work, blending soulful textures with the poetic grit VC Pines is known for.
Speaking on the new project, Mercer explained, “This EP is a mix of songs I’ve been holding onto for a while, and songs that helped me get through the last 6 to 12 months. Viole(n)t Colour feels small, rough around the edges — like a pinecone in your pocket — but holds moments of self-realisation and growth.”
Lead single Made 2 Luv, featuring Josie Man, is a standout moment on the EP. Built on smooth grooves and poignant lyrics, the track tackles disillusionment with the music industry and modern life in London. “We’re sold this dream,” VC Pines says, “but it’s all fugazi — yet we smile and carry on. Artists have had to get really good at that.”
VC Pines has quickly emerged as a voice to watch within the UK’s alt-soul scene, blending themes of love, identity, and mental health with his signature mix of R&B, indie, and spoken word. His debut album MRI (2023) explored the impact of temporal lobe epilepsy, a condition that fuels his unique synaesthetic approach to songwriting — where sounds, chords, and emotions manifest as colour.
To celebrate the EP’s release, VC Pines will headline London’s Omeara on May 23rd, promising a live experience as vivid and emotionally charged as the music itself.
Following a string of acclaimed singles, including BREAK and need 2 breathe, Viole(n)t Colour sees VC Pines — the artistic alias of Jack Mercer — turn inward. The EP was written in the wake of burnout and emotional exhaustion after independently releasing his debut album MRI, managing two tours without a label or manager, and navigating personal upheaval. The result is a raw and intimate body of work, blending soulful textures with the poetic grit VC Pines is known for.
Lead single Made 2 Luv, featuring Josie Man, is a standout moment on the EP. Built on smooth grooves and poignant lyrics, the track tackles disillusionment with the music industry and modern life in London. “We’re sold this dream,” VC Pines says, “but it’s all fugazi — yet we smile and carry on. Artists have had to get really good at that.”
VC Pines has quickly emerged as a voice to watch within the UK’s alt-soul scene, blending themes of love, identity, and mental health with his signature mix of R&B, indie, and spoken word. His debut album MRI (2023) explored the impact of temporal lobe epilepsy, a condition that fuels his unique synaesthetic approach to songwriting — where sounds, chords, and emotions manifest as colour.
To celebrate the EP’s release, VC Pines will headline London’s Omeara on May 23rd, promising a live experience as vivid and emotionally charged as the music itself.
