For producer Barney Lister and vocalist Kojo Degraft-Johnson, music is a place to belong. Hailing from different ends of England and disparate cultures, they have come together as MRCY. Creating a shared space of soulful self-expression that combines the timeless musical warmth of Marvin Gaye with the modern sensibility of Khruangbin, Anderson .Paak and Sault.

Over the past five years, Barney has established himself as one of the UK’s most in-demand, genre-fluid young producers, striking up a long-term collaboration with Obongjayar and producing the Ivor Novelli Awards-winning ‘God’s Own Children’ in 2020, as well as his critically acclaimed 2022 debut album Some Nights I Dream Of Doors. Kojo, meanwhile, earned his striped at London’s prestigious jam nights before going onto provide vocals for an equally illustrious roster of homegrown artists, such as Cleo Sol, Little Simz and Ego Ella May.

Having strived separately for years behind the scenes, for Barney ad Kojo the band is as much about putting yourself first as it is the spirit of compassion, empathy and m(e)rcy that has never felt more needed.