Merz (musician)

Merz
Merz (Conrad Lambert) performing at Joe's Pub, New York City, 17 September 2008
Background information
Birth name	Conrad Ewart Lambert
Origin	Dorset, England
Genres	Alternative, electronica, folk
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Epic (1999–2000) Grönland (2005–2008) Accidental (2013–present)
Website	merz.co.uk

Merz (born Conrad Lambert in Dorset, England) is an English multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter. He has released five albums.

Born Conrad Lambert in Dorset, England, he grew up in Wakefield & Huddersfield, Yorkshire. He moved to London in 1992.

Merz had two minor hits in 1999 in the UK Singles Chart with "Many Weathers Apart" and "Lovely Daughter". Later that same year, his eponymous debut album was released on Epic Records. The album combined elements of electronica with strains of folk and drew critical acclaim. However, the commercial success which had been predicted by many in the music industry and press failed to materialise, and Merz withdrew from his recording contract with Epic's parent company, Sony BMG, in 2000.

His second album, Loveheart, surfaced five years later on the independent Grönland label. Whilst it also won plaudits and was well received in the music press, it escaped the hype that surrounded the first album.

Once Loveheart was released Merz toured Europe with The Earlies, played at festivals as diverse as UK's Green Man Festival, Montreux Jazz festival in Switzerland and SXSW in USA. More acclaim followed in the US, where the track 'Dangerous Heady Love Scheme' was iTunes Single of the Week, and 'Postcard From A Darkstar, 'Toy', 'Credo' and 'Serene' were all Today's Top Tune for influential LA radio station KCRW.

Merz spent much time travelling around England the consecutive few years, and this restless spirit set the tone for his third album Moi et Mon Camion (2008). Named after a West Country removal firm who moved Conrad and belongings several times. The album itself was written on the move, as Merz was relocating from Bristol to Plymouth to Bath then subsequently to Bern, Switzerland. The album features two collaborations with Paul Hartnoll of Orbital.