Step into a vibrant world of music with our guest, the astounding Maritza Merk. This singer-songwriter from New Jersey will whisk you away on a journey through her diverse musical experiences, from the pulsating music scenes of New York, Los Angeles, and Miami to the rich rhythmic landscapes of Mexico. Listen as Maritza pulls back the curtain on the formation of the dynamic group, Merk La Familia, and how her Haitian roots weave a thread of unique influence through her songwriting.
Prepare to delve deeper into Maritza's captivating universe in the second half of our conversation. We'll shine a spotlight on her upcoming music projects, including the thoughtfully crafted visuals for her impending album release and the challenges she faced during the pandemic. Get the inside scoop on the artists currently sparking her creativity and the dream collaborations that could potentially shape her musical future. Maritza's heartfelt message to her listeners is one of joy, inspiration, and cherished moments. So, tune in to soak up the magic of her music and her story.
Step into a vibrant world of music with our guest, the astounding Maritza Merk. This singer-songwriter from New Jersey will whisk you away on a journey through her diverse musical experiences, from the pulsating music scenes of New York, Los Angeles, and Miami to the rich rhythmic landscapes of Mexico. Listen as Maritza pulls back the curtain on the formation of the dynamic group, Merk La Familia, and how her Haitian roots weave a thread of unique influence through her songwriting.
Prepare to delve deeper into Maritza's captivating universe in the second half of our conversation. We'll shine a spotlight on her upcoming music projects, including the thoughtfully crafted visuals for her impending album release and the challenges she faced during the pandemic. Get the inside scoop on the artists currently sparking her creativity and the dream collaborations that could potentially shape her musical future. Maritza's heartfelt message to her listeners is one of joy, inspiration, and cherished moments. So, tune in to soak up the magic of her music and her story.
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Lady D:
It's in the field, radio y'all. Everything's real in the field. On 91.3 FM WVKR.
Erin Boogie:
All right. So just for those that might not be familiar, who are you?
Martiza Merk:
Hi everyone. My name is Maritza Merk. I'm a singer-songwriter. I work with a group called Merklaw Familia and it's basically like a production company slash collective of different artists and stuff like that. I'm in New Jersey. I've performed in several places like New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Mexico, and I'm just trying to see how far I can get with it in Mexico.
Erin Boogie:
Yeah, tell us about that. That's pretty big.
Martiza Merk:
So I think I started to go to Mexico maybe like three, was it three years ago? And the first time that I went it was just awesome energy, like we did a little event out there and we're just performing just to see how it goes. And then from there it was just like, well, we have to go every year now, because I don't know how do I word it the energy was always so right over there, they welcomed us with open arms and they just loved the music so much, and so we're just like we always have to make an admission to try to go back every year. Now You're in Mexico, so Mexico City, oh, okay.
Martiza Merk:
And then last year I was there for a festival called Tropico and it's like one of the biggest festivals in Mexico in Acapulco, and I did that and it was awesome and I was just waiting to go back this year, but, of course, with everything like, it's just been hard, it's just like till the end of the year. So that's it. I'm in love with it. Yeah, mexico definitely has a special place. Well, I was born in New York, brooklyn, yeah, so, and I'm raised in New Jersey and I'm from the Raleigh, new Jersey. Cool, you're not far at all. No, not at all.
Lady D:
Your work in La Familia in the like.
Martiza Merk:
Merck, la Familia.
Lady D:
Yeah, you all create compositions or like music, for like I see music get picked up for film and yeah, music, or I mean, for for me, I'm just more like the singer, songwriter and everything.
Martiza Merk:
So it's like I try to work on stuff that goes with like my project and whatever I'm going to put out. But of course, like we, our goal is to always try to expand the music and get it to wherever we need to. You know. So if it, if it goes right into um somebody's movie or their um you know fashion show or something like things like that we're just always looking to to get it to the right ears and to the right um, how do I say that? But we're just always basically trying to get, get the right, get the music to the right crowd and the right vibe and right audience.
Erin Boogie:
So what is the dynamic with Merck La Familia? I know there's a couple producers and then are you the only singer, songwriter, or is there more of?
Martiza Merk:
you. I feel like we, we all kind of play that role, to be honest. Like I mean, I'm not a producer but I like, as you know, I am the singer songwriter in the group and um, but the guys definitely play that part as well too. Like well, they'll do like some writing as well.
Erin Boogie:
So that's really cool. Yeah, how's it all come?
Martiza Merk:
together. It was basically through word of mouth, like I had a song on um SoundCloud that my friend heard and she played it for her friend who had been to be um married to one of the guys. And then she reached out to me and said like oh my God, like I really like your voice, so let me link you up with these guys and stuff. And then from there, like it was history, like we just kind of like clicked and just started writing music and putting it out. So are they based locally near?
Martiza Merk:
you or do you guys collaborate via the internet and um near me, Like sometimes we'll go to New York and sometimes we'll stay in Jersey. And when did you?
Erin Boogie:
start doing music.
Martiza Merk:
Uh, I've like, I feel like the cliche thing to say would be like my whole life and all that, but I would feel like professionally, um, I would say maybe five years. Now I know you are of Haitian origin, so how did that influence?
Martiza Merk:
your music, oh, like with anything that I would find, like my parents would talk about like their time in Haiti, how it was, how it was, how it was, how it was um growing up, and I always go through like their the family photos and everything and it just looks so, so beautiful. You know, and I'm I'm very much like a, like a old soul at heart, Like I always tell everyone that, and so I always go back to um my family history and try to see like how they grew up and what was their love stories like and everything. So that's that's a big part of like how I write too. That's really cool. Wait, is there love stories like significant?
Lady D:
different than a US love story, I mean.
Martiza Merk:
I don't I.
Lady D:
I think it all means the same thing.
Martiza Merk:
It's just more of um. I think it's just interesting, like hearing it from a different perspective and stuff like that. I feel like it all is the same, like everyone feels love, you know, but um, it's just interesting to hear it from from a different time or a different place. No, that is interesting. That's a really interesting perspective.
Erin Boogie:
Nice to incorporate into writing.
Lady D:
Yeah, I hear people talk about loving their songs like the exact same way.
Martiza Merk:
Yeah.
Lady D:
Being able to describe the uh common feeling differently. It's like yeah. I like that, that's a good sense of family too.
Erin Boogie:
And it's a good way to incorporate your family and your family's stories into your music. For sure, I always told them that like that'll inspire me a lot.
Martiza Merk:
So with the single, both ways. That song is about trying to save a failing relationship, which is something everyone can relate to.
Erin Boogie:
Yeah, so was that drawn off of like family history, or was that personal influence, or was it just being a creative songwriter? That's what I felt. I felt like it was a good way to incorporate your family.
Martiza Merk:
I mean, it was a good way to incorporate your family, and I think that's a good way to incorporate your family. I mean so with that being a creative songwriter, that's what I feel is definitely more personal. You know, like just dealing with somebody and just trying to like get over them and just like going through the cycle of like oh my God, like here we are again, type of nonsense, you know, and it's just like you gonna be able to native Scam away. So that's that's what it means for me to be honest.
Erin Boogie:
That sounds like something we all need to listen to. Like I feel attacked.
Lady D:
Are you working on an album? Well, I saw that there was an album coming, so I saw yeah.
Martiza Merk:
So that I, like I've been, I've been working on this album for years now and now, like I've, I've finished it, and so now it's basically like the rollout of things and trying to make sure that I'm Putting it out to the right audience and getting as much momentum behind it, and so that's just what I've been working on right now. Like the album is is done and it's uploaded and ready to go for the date and everything, but it's just a matter of like Presenting it to everyone the right way, because it is like it's like a present, you know, or gifts to the that you give to someone and you want to make sure that you got the right wrapping paper, the right box and I mean you know, right, if that makes any sense.
Lady D:
It makes a lot of sense and we wish more people were like that.
Erin Boogie:
Can you tell us, or not yet, what was that? Can you tell us, when it's dropping like what the date is? Yet or not yet, not yet, but you know why?
Martiza Merk:
because We've changed it a few times and so even though, like now, we we're set on a date, but I'm just like let me not jinx it, so yeah, no, we get it.
Erin Boogie:
We definitely get it. Are you going to be dropping any visuals to coincide with the project?
Martiza Merk:
Yes, I will. Yes, I will. I think a few weeks ago, what's it, I did a music video for one of the songs on the On the album. It looks really, really cool. I can't wait to share it with you. It's just super earthy and I love it. I don't want to give too much away, but sometimes on my insta story like I'll put some, some skills up of it. But that's just as much as I can give for now, because I really wanted to be surprised. I'm excited.
Erin Boogie:
I am too. What's what's so easy for one of the singles that's out, or are you dropping another single before the project comes out?
Martiza Merk:
It's a song that's on the album.
Erin Boogie:
Okay, yeah, we're trying to dig. You're not giving nothing up.
Martiza Merk:
I know, I know you. Just you're just gonna have to wait and see in here, so, but I will say that some of the songs that are out right now are going to be on the album, so it's like you've already had a sneak peek of it anyway, Is it?
Erin Boogie:
how has the pandemic affected your rollout for the album? Is that part of the reason why you've changed dates? Has it affected creating visuals? Because I know it's been, especially in the Northeast, for how many months? A couple months it was difficult to do anything outside.
Martiza Merk:
Yeah, it's of course, that was definitely like, you know, a Slowing, a slowdown for everyone, you know, because you just weren't sure, but you weren't sure how, how bad everything was, or when anything Was gonna get better, and you were kind of scared to get in contact with people. So to even make Like a music video just felt like, oh, my god, oh, we have to put pause, hit pause on that and wait to see like how's everyone really doing, and all of that. But yeah, it was definitely like it just slowed everything down, you know, but it didn't stop it. So, so we still found a way to make it work, that's dope.
Erin Boogie:
So who are you listening to right now?
Martiza Merk:
SZA Janayko, give me on. Is I say his name? I actually don't know. Give me. Well, I hope I'm saying his name right. Um, I was a little bit of like when he Houston. Yeah, I guess that's all I could think of at the top of my head, but it's a lot of other people too, I love Whitney.
Erin Boogie:
I'm just gonna throw that out there, me too.
Martiza Merk:
Oh my gosh Her voice. It gives me goosebumps, same like I think I literally think she has the best vocals of all time. Like I don't think anyone can top her. Like I've heard awesome artists, of course, but it's just like, when do you think she's up there for me?
Erin Boogie:
Like wait, I think I'm gonna have to agree with you on that. 100% gonna have to agree on that.
Martiza Merk:
She is number one for me, oh my gosh.
Erin Boogie:
So then, if you could collab with anyone right now, who would it be?
Lady D:
Frank Ocean, hmm, yeah, that's a good answer before, have we no, because he's been hiding.
Lady D:
Yes, but there would be a way to get him out of hiding.
Martiza Merk:
Frank Ocean, daniel Caesar. Oh my gosh like yes, hands down always.
Erin Boogie:
Frank Ocean like disappears for like two to three years and then, like, drops an album, like, does like a festival performance and then goes back into hiding.
Martiza Merk:
I know, but you know what, like it just makes me like want more from him, to like when he does drop something, I'm like, okay, well, let me just grasp it all in right now before he goes away.
Erin Boogie:
So that's an incredible career to have, though. That you could just go away and then just randomly drop something, make an appearance and then go back into hiding and live like your normal life.
Martiza Merk:
Yeah, for sure, so I don't know, I guess I feel like he has like a good little thing going on, though, because he gets to focus solely on the music, in that sense, I feel like on the art and not all the like other little things that come with it. I agree.
Erin Boogie:
Is there anything else that you would like our listeners to know?
Martiza Merk:
I feel like we recovered everything. I mean, I would say, to stay tuned, and I really hope that this project brings them, like, a lot of joy and inspiration and something that they can really hold on to and cherish and go back to, you know, forever in a situation. So I feel like that's, that's it, that's really my message for any listeners.
Erin Boogie:
And the project, when it drops, it'll be on all platforms. Yes, it will. Okay, so we'll make sure that they stay in tune and they know where to find it.
Lady D:
What social media you want them to follow.
Martiza Merk:
I'm on Instagram. I'm on Twitter marica underscore Merck yeah, so follow me.
Erin Boogie:
I don't think I have any questions. Do you have any more questions? No, ma'am, and you're good. You don't have anything else. You want them to know? I'm good. Usually this is the part where we ask, like, if you have any performances coming up or that type of thing, but obviously that's not a thing right now.
Martiza Merk:
So yeah, I mean I'm just trying to see if I could make like little homemade performances to like on Insta live, and you know to try to find ways to make it interesting and entertaining. So that's still a work in process as well.
Lady D:
Well, I'll come, so let us know.
Erin Boogie:
Yeah, definitely keep us in tune with what you got going on and we'll keep our listeners in tune For sure. Thank you so much, no problem, thank you.
Lady D:
Welcome back to In the Field Radio. You know what I'm about to do. Make sure you follow In the Field Radio. Write to me, tell me what you think. Do song requests. You know what I'm saying? Talk to me, do shoutouts. If you write to me in the DMs, I'm gonna read it and I'm gonna do what you tell me to do. Boss me around. I like that stuff. Add In the Field Radio on everything. All right, I'm about to get out of here. Big thank you and I love you to anybody that's rocking with us. All our loyal listeners Love you guys. Thanks for chilling with those chicks on Mondays In the Field Radio 91.3 FM. Wvkr Poughkeepsie. Have a good night.