Merz (musician) - Biography

Biography

Born Conrad Ewart Lambert in Dorset, England, he grew up in Wakefield & Huddersfield, Yorkshire. He moved to London in 1992.

Merz had two minor hits in 1999 in the UK Singles Chart with "Many Weathers Apart" and "Lovely Daughter". Later that same year, his eponymous debut album was released on Epic Records. The album combined elements of electronica with strains of folk and drew critical acclaim. However the commercial success which had been predicted by many in the music industry and press failed to materialise, and Merz withdrew from his recording contract with Epic's parent company, Sony BMG, in 2000.

His second album, Loveheart, surfaced five years later on the independent Grönland label. Whilst it also won plaudits and was well received in the music press, it escaped the hype that surrounded the first album.

Since Loveheart was released, Merz toured Europe with The Earlies, playing all over the world at festivals as diverse as UK's Green Man, Montreux Jazz festival in Switzerland and SXSW in USA. More acclaim followed in the US, where the track ‘Dangerous Heady Love Scheme’ was iTunes Single of the Week, and ‘Postcard From A Darkstar’ was also Single of the Week with influential LA radio station KCRW.

Merz spent much time travelling around England the consecutive few years, and this restless spirit set the tone for his third album Moi et Mon Camion (2008). Named after a West Country removal firm who have moved Conrad and his wife's belongings several times. The album itself was written on the move, as Merz was relocating from Bristol, to Plymouth then subsequently to Bath. The album features two collaborations with Paul Hartnoll of Orbital.

The recording of the album also happened on the move, in numerous different locations. From Peter Gabriel’s Real World studios just outside Bath, to the Rockfield Studios in Wales, the Yorkshire Moors and even outside in the woods. Conrad was joined by a few notable musicians for this record. Charlie Jones, some time bass player with Robert Plant & Jimmy Page and Goldfrapp helped out, as did Clive Deamer, drummer for Portishead and Roni Size. The Earlies also join Conrad for a guest spot, singing backing vocals on ‘Call Me’, dropping in on their way back from playing at Glastonbury Festival. This 3rd album also gained Merz much critical acclaim.

Merz currently lives in the Swiss Alps. Merz's parents, David and Lois Lambert, live in Chingeltei district, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where his father works at the Hartford Institute of Mongolia and his mother for the United Nations.