Sustainability Tips With Tasmanian Alt-rockers Meres

Last month, Meres (pronounced like pears) dropped the jagged punk tune Ocean View, an uncompromising anthem about successive governments’ inaction towards climate change.

The project of vocalist Mary Shannon, who hails from Launceston, Tasmania, she invites a collaborative spirit with her bandmates while channelling the rebellious energy of Magic Dirt’s Adalita and US indie rockers Pixies and Speedy Ortiz.

Unrounded punk edges, sniping bass lines, and sang-shouted lines from Shannon, the latest track from Meres is one you can’t help nodding your head along to. You can listen to the track below.

“This song is fuelled by a sort of ‘exhausted by it all’ anger and feelings of disempowerment, while trying to balance these feelings with the narrative that we are responsible for our own well-being and our own happiness,” Shannon noted in a press release.

She added, “Who cares if young people don’t have a future? At least the internet and fat cats can remind them that it’s their own fault, even though real change is in the hands of corrupt pollies who couldn’t give a fuck about life beyond their own.”

Teaming up with renowned Australian producer Anna Laverty (Camp Cope, Stella Donnelly) and US engineer Justin Pizzoferrato (SASAMI, Dinosaur Jr.), Ocean View is the first thrilling taste of what’s to come for Meres: a debut album set for release later this year.

“As someone that has lived with mental health issues her whole life, I am one of the many, many people who are trying,” Shannon said, “Doing the work but in earnest, finding it hard to fight for anything when the future looks so dire.”

Meres are the recipients of the Tasmanian-based Nick Balcombe Foundation, Live Your Dream Grant - a great honour within the Tassie music scene.

To celebrate Ocean View and what’s to come, Mary Shannon offered Kill Your Stereo her top Sustainability Tips – and some songs to accompany them.

1.      Move Along - The All-American Rejects:

Walking to work because it’s one of the best ways to do good for the planet and for yourself and your mind!!

2.      Finish What I Started - You Me At Six:

Making a sweet leftover omelette to reduce your food waste…

3.      Creatures of Habit – Polaris:

Taking a keep cup and chatting with your local coffee shop people about how great coffee is every damn day…

4.      Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus:

Getting your compost on while listening to Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus

5.      Organ Farmer - King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard:

Making an effort to go to the local butcher for your proteins so you can ByO containers to Organ Farmer by King Giz

6.      Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana:

Wearing the same shirt multiple times until it is actually unwearable in public to save on washing (and also just being a general grot)...

Ocean View is out now.