Hayden Merrick
@haydenmerrick.bsky.social
Features Editor at The Line of Best Fit. Just peddlin’ sonic truths. London, UK.
https://muckrack.com/hayden-merrick
https://muckrack.com/hayden-merrick
Dummy are basically my favourite active band at this point. So pleased I got to commission and edit Yu An Su’s profile on them, which hits the nail on the head
L.A.’s principled musicophiles discuss their dizzying new remix album, Bubbelibrium Dlc, featuring reinterpretations of Dummy tracks by Wishy, Immersion, Three Quarter Skies, and more.
Dummy: “We weren’t just doing this as a marketing stunt” | Interview
L.A. musicophiles Dummy discuss their dizzying new remix album, Bubbelibrium Dlc, featuring reinterpretations of Dummy tracks by Wishy, Immersion, Three Quarter Skies, and more.
www.thelineofbestfit.com
July 3, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Dummy are basically my favourite active band at this point. So pleased I got to commission and edit Yu An Su’s profile on them, which hits the nail on the head
Wrote about Downloooooaaaad. It was fun but I sneezed a lot
As Download approaches its mid-twenties, the legendary rock and metal festival expands its USP to allow all streams of alternative culture to happily jostle together in the Leicestershire countryside.
Review of Download Festival 2025: The year the legendary rock festival saved punk (and vice versa)
The legendary rock and metal festival expands its USP so that all streams of alternative culture happily jostle together.
www.thelineofbestfit.com
June 17, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Wrote about Downloooooaaaad. It was fun but I sneezed a lot
@taylorruckle.bsky.social is too good at this. And Perennial are also too good at this—a match made in art-punk heaven
Cut-and-pasting the best ideas from their DVD and record collections, Connecticut band Perennial have perfected their encyclopaedic art punk.
Perennial: “I really do believe in making your life a work of art” | Interview
Cut-and-pasting the best ideas from their DVD and record collections, Connecticut band Perennial have perfected their encyclopaedic art punk.
www.thelineofbestfit.com
June 3, 2025 at 8:09 AM
@taylorruckle.bsky.social is too good at this. And Perennial are also too good at this—a match made in art-punk heaven
Got to visit Bratislava and see the ugliest (coolest) building in the world, hear some amazing music, and be a lil part of something hopeful. Wrote about it. Thanks for having me, Sharpe ❤️
Review of SHARPE 2025: Bratislava festival bursts ballooning authoritarianism
Bratislava’s SHARPE Festival thrives where oppression falters and reminds us that we’re rich where it counts.
www.thelineofbestfit.com
May 1, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Got to visit Bratislava and see the ugliest (coolest) building in the world, hear some amazing music, and be a lil part of something hopeful. Wrote about it. Thanks for having me, Sharpe ❤️
Reposted by Hayden Merrick
PLEASE don’t buy into Amazon’s booksale this week.
They are intentionally trying to eat into profits from Indie Bookstore Day this weekend, a really important annual event for our important community institutions.
Check out your local fave or bookshop.org.
They are intentionally trying to eat into profits from Indie Bookstore Day this weekend, a really important annual event for our important community institutions.
Check out your local fave or bookshop.org.
Bookshop: Buy books online. Support local bookstores.
An online bookstore that financially supports local independent bookstores and gives back to the book community.
bookshop.org
April 23, 2025 at 1:36 PM
PLEASE don’t buy into Amazon’s booksale this week.
They are intentionally trying to eat into profits from Indie Bookstore Day this weekend, a really important annual event for our important community institutions.
Check out your local fave or bookshop.org.
They are intentionally trying to eat into profits from Indie Bookstore Day this weekend, a really important annual event for our important community institutions.
Check out your local fave or bookshop.org.
www.change.org/p/defend-the...
Save the Wayback Machine!
Save the Wayback Machine!
Sign the Petition
Defend the Internet Archive
www.change.org
April 18, 2025 at 9:37 AM
www.change.org/p/defend-the...
Save the Wayback Machine!
Save the Wayback Machine!
Wow. This is a beautiful piece
Whether through Peter Gabriel's 1992 song "Kiss That Frog" or borrowed 𝘋𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘦 and 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮 CDs, the single-most important thing he gave me, besides unconditional love, was modeling how to use music in my life
I Learned to Listen From My Dad
He taught me a crucial survival skill when he passed down his rock’n’roll fandom.
www.hearingthings.co
April 15, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Wow. This is a beautiful piece
@lauramdavid.bsky.social is next-level good
Nomadic singer/songwriter Joni left behind people, places, and parts of herself during the cathartic search for her sound – but she’s bringing a newfound self-love with her.
Joni: “The pain of losing is what’s so transformative” | Interview
Joni left behind people, places, and parts of herself during the cathartic search for her sound – but she’s bringing a lot of love with her too.
buff.ly
April 11, 2025 at 11:14 AM
@lauramdavid.bsky.social is next-level good
Had a cool chat with Lottie Malkmus about her new project, Lottie’s, and some other stuff
Lottie Malkmus has been songwriting since the third grade – and after diving into her college radio archives and performing intimidating cello sonatas, she’s ready to drop her bookish indie rock project Lottie’s onto the world.
Lottie Malkmus: “The only thing that made sense was music” | Interview
Lottie Malkmus – aka Lottie’s – has been writing songs since third grade, but now she's ready to let us in on her bookish indie rock project.
buff.ly
April 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Had a cool chat with Lottie Malkmus about her new project, Lottie’s, and some other stuff
Reposted by Hayden Merrick
uncritical coverage of arcade fire supports rape culture. multiple people were abused by win butler whose band is banking on you “forgetting.” @marchogan.bsky.social’s 2022 investigation:
Arcade Fire’s Win Butler Accused of Sexual Misconduct by Multiple Women; Frontman Responds
Allegations of inappropriate behavior in his life offstage contrast with Butler’s virtuous public reputation. In lengthy comments, the frontman claims his extramarital relationships were consensual.
pitchfork.com
April 8, 2025 at 5:26 PM
uncritical coverage of arcade fire supports rape culture. multiple people were abused by win butler whose band is banking on you “forgetting.” @marchogan.bsky.social’s 2022 investigation:
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”
—Alex Ovechkin
—Hayden Merrick
—Alex Ovechkin
—Hayden Merrick
April 5, 2025 at 8:07 AM
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”
—Alex Ovechkin
—Hayden Merrick
—Alex Ovechkin
—Hayden Merrick
Alex Melton is one of the coolest, kindest, most talented dudes around.
Had such a fascinating chat about the nine most influential songs in his life.
www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/int...
Had such a fascinating chat about the nine most influential songs in his life.
www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/int...
April 4, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Alex Melton is one of the coolest, kindest, most talented dudes around.
Had such a fascinating chat about the nine most influential songs in his life.
www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/int...
Had such a fascinating chat about the nine most influential songs in his life.
www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/int...
Beautiful, thoughtful writeup by Rachael Pimblett. The Great Grandpa album is wickkedddd
United by many things – including their worship of Abbey Road and time’s arrow – the members of Great Grandpa are entering a new era at the end of a rocky road. Rachael Pimblett learns all about the bumps and beauty that led to 'Patience, Moonbeam'.
Great Grandpa: “We’re like a superhero team – greater when combined” | Interview
Great Grandpa's new era is defined by Abbey Road, time's arrow, and the bumps and beauty on route to Patience, Moonbeam.
buff.ly
April 2, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Beautiful, thoughtful writeup by Rachael Pimblett. The Great Grandpa album is wickkedddd
Reposted by Hayden Merrick
2022 is the new 1999 for California-via-Brooklyn indie rockers Momma. The songwriting duo talk to BEST FIT about the dizzying process of making their new album, Welcome to My Blue Sky.
Momma: “We haven’t really gone above the water yet” | Interview
Momma's songwriting duo discuss the dizzying process of making their new album Welcome to My Blue Sky, which makes 2002 sound like 1999.
buff.ly
March 31, 2025 at 8:53 AM
2022 is the new 1999 for California-via-Brooklyn indie rockers Momma. The songwriting duo talk to BEST FIT about the dizzying process of making their new album, Welcome to My Blue Sky.
One of my favourite pieces I’ve edited. Kate Ratner knows how it’s done
Becca Harvey’s resilience in the face of change and heartbreak is paying off as she reaches dream-come-true milestones in her career as girlpuppy – from interpolating a Fleetwood Mac song to collaborating with MJ Lenderman’s producer.
girlpuppy: “The sweetness of the record, I feel, is me” | Interview
Becca Harvey discusses the defiant self-love fuelling her rebirth and girlpuppy's sophomore album, Sweetness.
buff.ly
March 27, 2025 at 5:03 PM
One of my favourite pieces I’ve edited. Kate Ratner knows how it’s done
Tara Hepburn did a beautiful job with this one
Indie-folk duo lilo have arrived with debut LP Blood Ties. Childhood friends Helen Dixon and Christie Gardner chat about making the switch to a full album with the help of Sims emotions and a sun-soaked road trip.
Lilo: “You know my brain as much as I know yours” | Interview
Childhood friends lilo discuss making the switch from EPs to their debut album, Blood Ties, with the help of Sims emotions and a sun-soaked road trip.
buff.ly
March 25, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Tara Hepburn did a beautiful job with this one
Reposted by Hayden Merrick
Over the last few weeks we lost The Caldonia in Liverpool, and the Dorothy Pax in Sheffield.
March 15, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Over the last few weeks we lost The Caldonia in Liverpool, and the Dorothy Pax in Sheffield.
Reposted by Hayden Merrick
“Yay! Saturday” single sees Liverpool newcomers Girl Group announce their friendship-forward, feminist dynamic, while dragging the audience along for a messy girls’ night out.
“Yay! Saturday” by Girl Group is messy, joyful girls’ night out
The new single by Liverpool band Girl Group reveals a refreshingly DIY, friendship-forward feminist dynamic.
buff.ly
March 7, 2025 at 9:38 AM
“Yay! Saturday” single sees Liverpool newcomers Girl Group announce their friendship-forward, feminist dynamic, while dragging the audience along for a messy girls’ night out.
Woulda been cool if Zelensky just turned around and said, “yeah well you literally smell like poo.” I think politics needs more of that
March 5, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Woulda been cool if Zelensky just turned around and said, “yeah well you literally smell like poo.” I think politics needs more of that
Possibly the most surreal interview I’ve ever done. The man who started it all.
Bob Mould @bobmouldmusic.bsky.social pioneered alternative rock with Hüsker Dü and continued to define it through his prolific solo career. To celebrate new album Here We Go Crazy, he de-archives a handful of special songs to help narrate his story.
Bob Mould's best songs, as chosen by him | Interview
Bob Mould talks to Best Fit about the milestone songs of his impeccable musical career.
buff.ly
March 4, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Possibly the most surreal interview I’ve ever done. The man who started it all.
Reposted by Hayden Merrick
Best Fit returns to Austin for SXSW next month, with an official party on 14 March showcasing some of the most innovative music makers around including YHWH Nailgun, Black Fondu, jasmine.4.t, Case Oats, Nara’s Room,, Man/Woman/Chainsaw, shower curtain, Emmeline, Chinese American Bear + more.
Best Fit’s SXSW 2025 lineup is here: YHWH Nailgun, jasmine.4.t, Black Fondu
Best Fit is returning to Austin for SXSW next month, with an official party on Friday 14 March showcasing some of the most innovative music makers around.
buff.ly
February 28, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Best Fit returns to Austin for SXSW next month, with an official party on 14 March showcasing some of the most innovative music makers around including YHWH Nailgun, Black Fondu, jasmine.4.t, Case Oats, Nara’s Room,, Man/Woman/Chainsaw, shower curtain, Emmeline, Chinese American Bear + more.
Cannot recommend this band enough. Give them a listen and your world will fill with sunshine and soda
Named after a magical pig who dispenses soda, Oslo folk-fusion newcomers Pumpegris are all about fun, whimsy, and virtuosic songcraft.
Pumpegris: “The devil puts you in this dancing mood and you can’t stop” | Interview
Named after a magical pig who dispenses soda, Oslo folk-fusion newcomers Pumpegris are all about fun, whimsy, and virtuosic songcraft.
buff.ly
March 2, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Cannot recommend this band enough. Give them a listen and your world will fill with sunshine and soda
This is THE piece on @cheekface.bsky.social imo. All the hand claps to @taylorruckle.bsky.social
Terminally cheeky, independent LA trio Cheekface use their surprise new record Middle Spoon to move past a year of health crises and breakups.
Cheekface: “You’re not supposed to grow up, duh!” | Interview
Terminally cheeky, independent LA trio Cheekface use their surprise new record Middle Spoon to move past a year of health crises and breakups.
buff.ly
February 25, 2025 at 10:21 AM
This is THE piece on @cheekface.bsky.social imo. All the hand claps to @taylorruckle.bsky.social