WATCH: THE SNARLIN’ YARNS RELEASE VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE ‘MERMAID’

December 6, 2022 Deann Armes

“Mermaid” is the opening track on The Snarlin’ Yarn’s upcoming new album “It Never Ends,” to be released on January 23, 2023.

By Deann Armes

VIDEO RELEASE

The Snarlin’ Yarns are an alt-bluegrass and improv poetry group based in Ogden, Utah. Following “Break Your Heart” (2020), the Yarns will release their second full-length album from Dial Back Sound, “It Never Ends,” on January 23, 2023. Listen to first single "Mermaid” and pre-order the new album on vinyl or digital download, here.

“Mermaid” was written by fiddle-vocalist-songwriter Mara Brown, who says this is one of her most visual songs. It reverberates like an old forgotten classic, with modern lyricism that feels pure as pearls. Brown’s shimmering tune about transformation is a gem.

I grew up spending a lot of time in a small fishing community in the northeast. My dreams and emotions have been intertwined with imagery of fishing boats, the ocean, whales, and all the creatures that lie within for many years. I have been working through a personal transformation for several years triggered by grief and re-grieving some childhood loss. Working through these recent and old emotions came together in this song and I remember literally waking up one morning with these images on my mind. The mermaid is a powerful symbol of transformation and metamorphosis—half woman, half fish, the ultimate freedom to live above and below the sea. Walking the plank to set herself free—takes control of the narrative and rather than jumping off leading to peril, it led to freedom and swimming off with the seals and whales, with the waving coral as a salve.

Mara Brown

Video: The Snarlin’ Yarns “Mermaid”

Fiddle & Lyrics: Mara Brown
Improvised Poetry: Abraham Smith
Guitar: William Pollett
Banjo: Jason Barrett-Fox
Banjo Ukelele: Thomas Dolph
Upright Bass: John Kveen

Videographer: Ryan Daly

Photo courtesy of The Snarlin’ Yarns