There’s something seriously exciting brewing in Manchester again, and it’s got a name: Mercy Kelly. The indie five-piece are back with their new single “Speak Too Soon”, and if this track is any indication, they’re not just riding the indie wave — they’re shaping it.

Following their earlier 2025 release “Illusions”, this latest offering is the first of four singles lined up ahead of big festival appearances at Tramlines and Kendal Calling. And honestly? “Speak Too Soon” isn’t just another indie track. It’s a statement. A step up. The sound of a band hitting their stride while keeping both their boots planted firmly in that iconic Manchester lineage — Britpop, melodic pop-rock, indie soul — but with a voice that feels entirely their own.

From the first few bars, “Speak Too Soon” grabs you with a warm, nostalgic familiarity — think a ‘90s rock glow-up with the emotional intelligence of 2025. That opening guitar riff is lush and shimmering, like someone bottled the golden hour and hit “play.” There’s a subtle build from the get-go, but it’s so tastefully done that you don’t realise you’re being swept up until you’re already halfway in, fully immersed in the sound.

The vocals are where this song really stands out. They’re not trying to outshine the band or overpower the mix. Instead, they pierce through the instrumental, not with volume but with emotion. There’s this understated power in the delivery. Not shouty. Not showy. But you feel every word. Even when the instrumentation swells around them, the vocals never get lost — they lead. They anchor.

Lyrically, the song hits that bittersweet nerve many of us know all too well — losing your way, losing a connection, maybe even losing yourself. It’s the stuff of growing pains, late-night spirals, and that odd little ache you get when something ends before it ever really began. “Speak Too Soon” manages to say a lot without over-explaining — the lyrics feel lived-in, not laboured. They're open-ended in the best way, giving listeners enough room to bring in their own heartbreaks and half-finished stories.

Around the midpoint, there’s a shift — a brief, breath-holding pause where the vocals step forward, the soundscape falls away, and everything feels weightless. It’s intimate, like someone stepping out of a crowded room to say something just to you. Then — bang — the band comes back in, tighter and more urgent, that signature guitar twang leading the charge. It’s the kind of moment that would hit hard live, and you can already imagine the crowd reaction when they play this at Kendal or Tramlines. Arms up, hearts cracked open.

Sonically, it’s clear the band knows what they’re doing. The instrumentation is smart, dynamic, and textured. There’s a definite Britpop backbone, but it’s dressed in modern indie polish — think early Coldplay meets a mellow Blossoms, or a more grounded Circa Waves. Melodic but not sugary. Polished but not sterile.

And let’s give props to the pacing. A longer track, sure — but it earns every second. The shifts in tone and tempo keep it engaging from start to finish. It’s one of those rare songs where the more you listen, the more you find — hidden textures in the guitars, little lyrical gut-punches, and emotional flickers that grow brighter each time around.

Future releases ‘Breathe For Her’ and ‘Out in the Night’ are scheduled for release October and December 2025 and they also have an exciting headline home town gig coming up at Gullivers in Manchester. The hotly anticipated EP will be released in the first quarter of 2026.

To sum it all up? “Speak Too Soon” is a beautifully crafted, emotionally rich single from a band that’s not just promising anymore — they’ve arrived. Mercy Kelly are planting their flag in the indie landscape, and honestly? We’re all better off for it.

One to watch. One to feel. One to remember.

“Speak Too Soon” is available now on all major streaming platforms

Listen to Mercy Kelly and other similar artists on our Spotify Playlist ‘New Music Spotlight - Indie & Alternative’

“Speak Too Soon” - Mercy Kelly

“Save Me” - Olesia Glants

“Heavy Machine Gun” - Leather Laces