THIRSTY MERC  

After over a decade of making music, they're still as thirsty as ever. 

They've released an indie EP, which garnered triple J airplay back in 2003, three critically acclaimed studio albums, an acoustic fan favourites record entitled 'AAA: Acoustic Anniversary Album' and a swag of classic tracks such as "20 Good Reasons", "Emancipate Myself", "Someday Someday", "Mousetrap Heart" and "In The Summertime." Australian rock stalwarts Thirsty Merc are still excited to be making music, and hungrier than ever before to extend their legacy.

After selling over 200, 000 records through Warner Music, this time round, Thirsty Merc are tackling the recording and release of their fourth studio album independently, and very differently.

For their forthcoming release, Thistlethwayte is eager to incorporate some "acoustic guitars, Hammond organs, and we're going to explore some classic rock, storytelling and folk elements." 

More importantly, the band is ensuring they return to the rock roots they unleashed on their first record. "A really important element for us is going into the same headspace of where it all began, and we're lucky enough to be working with the producer who helmed our first album, Lindsay Gravina." 

"We want to get into the same room, and without the shackles of a major record label, we can take risks, and not cut any corners musically. Because there are less diluting elements, it could be the most authentic album we've ever made."

Thistlethwayte has spent the last few years living in LA collaborating with other musicians, and even writing for music mogul Akon. "Practice makes perfect with anything," he says, "and because I've being doing it longer, and probably because my creative and emotional experiences are getting fuller, I do think my songwriting has improved." 

He's ready to flex his songwriting muscles on the forthcoming record, and this time round, he says, his songs are "exploring life on the road, emotional honesty and about my reconciliation with the concept of love, which a very complex thing. I've written a lot of straight up love songs, and to be honest, I'm ready to wear my heart on my sleeve a lot more than I have on previous records."