Music

MARVIN Exclusive: Mercer Henderson Is Done Holding Back, and She Has the EP to Prove It

Some artists write songs. Mercer Henderson writes confessions. The rising singer-songwriter has spent the last few years turning her love life inside out in the most public and cathartic way possible — and tomorrow, April 24th, she drops her new EP IS IT FUN OR IS IT OVER, a project that lives in the gray area most of us are too scared to admit we’re still stuck in. Part therapy session, part crash-out moment, part love letter to everyone who has ever been emotionally paralyzed by a relationship that refuses to define itself, the EP is raw, relatable, and impossible to sit still through — a testament to what it means to fall apart beautifully, loudly, and completely on her own terms.

MARVIN: IS IT FUN OR IS IT OVER feels like a confrontation, not a concept. What made you finally say it out loud?

MERCER: Songwriting for me is a confrontation, but also a confession at the same time. I approach all my sessions as if they were a therapy session. This song is about a relationship that felt fun to me, but was supposedly over. You know, maybe it’s over, or maybe it’s not. In my session with Gabe Reili, Savannah Sanabia, and Travis Heidleman, we were playing around with the ubiquity of my love life and landed on the concept of “Is It Fun Or Is It Over?” From there, I poured my heart into the lyrics and verses, culminating in the ultimate crash-out bridge, mirroring how uncertain relationships feel in the moment.

MARVIN: This EP sits in that messy middle of almosts and endings. Are you drawn to that space or trying to escape it?

MERCER: I’m drawn to the raw, messy, imperfect nature of relationships. My love life, friendships, and relationships provide me with such funny, positive, and sometimes heartbreaking narratives (especially my love life). This EP is an authentic representation of the relationships I’ve had over the past few years. I can tell how much they resonate with so many of my fans, and it makes me so, so grateful that I’m not alone in these feelings through these songs.

MARVIN: “Face Like Yours” hits fast and hard. Was that instinct or something you knew would come back to bite you?

MERCER: In March of 2025, when we began writing “Face Like Yours,” I knew it was going to be a banger. The writing started with the hook, “I got attached, and you got a girlfriend; you pulled the plug when I got invested.” I then thought about it in a live aspect—how would this translate on stage? I wanted people to jump and scream these lyrics!! We took the concept and ran with it. This was one of those songwriting sessions where I just could not sit still. I played the song live for the first time in May of 2025 and the fans started DMing me to release it. There is nothing better than getting to scream a song together. 

MARVIN: “Almost, So Close, Maybe” leans into uncertainty. Do you see that as honesty or hesitation?

MERCER: “Almost, So Close, Maybe” is all about accepting the uncertainty, the blurred lines, and the gray area of being in a situationship. It is an expression of doubting feelings and being emotionally paralyzed by not being able to define a relationship. It is both honest and hesitant, and this song has brought some of the most amazing fans to my music.

MARVIN: The title track feels like a breaking point. What moment forced everything into focus?

MERCER: Yes, 100%! The bridge of “Is It Fun Or Is It Over?” is a full crash-out moment. It really puts into perspective how hard it is to be in a place of uncertainty. I didn’t fully realize I was at a breaking point until I wrote that bridge. What is really incredible is seeing how many people are willing to crash out with me.   

MARVIN: You were on the road with Ruel. What has that experience taught you about stepping into your own headline shows?

MERCER: Ruel and his team are absolutely incredible. This tour has introduced me to new fans in markets I had never played before, and his crowds are a natural fit for my music, which made my job as an opener so fun. Getting to spend real time with fans in those cities was one of the most special parts of the whole experience. What has inspired me most is watching how Ruel approaches the show itself. The way he makes the stage fully immersive, the way he genuinely includes his openers, and the energy he brings to every single night reminded me exactly why I do this. Off stage, things got real and competitive fast with laser tag, pool, and axe throwing, exactly the kind of high-energy chaos you would expect from a “tour family.”

MARVIN: There’s a tension between chasing the high and dealing with the fallout. Did this project come from living in that aftermath?

MERCER: I think there is tension in every pursuit, relationships, friendships, and chasing dreams. The moments that feel the most alive often come with a quieter cost afterward: reflection, doubt, or a kind of emotional hangover. This project lives in between those moments, relationships, and the hope that things will work out, get better, or you will grow from it. 

MARVIN: Once the EP is out, you’ll be stepping into your own headline shows. How excited are you to fully bring this project to life on your terms?

MERCER: Every EP and show is part of my artist journey. I am constantly learning and growing in my artistry, especially through each live show. Within my music, I realize that the most important thing I can do is connect with anyone who takes the time to listen or attend my shows. They teach me so much about my own music, and I feel so thankful for each of them. What a gift it is to have an audience, and the fact that I get to openly and honestly share so much of my life with people who connect with it is incredible. At live performances, I also get to connect with so many of them for the first time.

IS IT FUN OR IS IT OVER drops April 24th, and if this conversation is any indication, Mercer Henderson is not interested in giving you easy answers — just honest ones. For those lucky enough to be in the room when she brings it all to life, she headlines in New York on April 25th and Boston on April 28th. Go scream the bridge with her. She’s been waiting.