Mercury houses 3 cardinal themes: Love, Heritage, and Betrayal. Writing the song Mercury was a heart-seeking process. While letting myself be open and personal, I found a universality that is revealed in being truthful about Love. In Ouroboros, Love is deduced to a “trade”, revealing the cynicism about Love still present in me. Mercury, amongst other ascriptions, is the god of Trade. Once I realized this song cycle was in alignment with the mythology of Mercury, I knew what the title of the album would be. Although the god Mercury has winged sandals, I try to keep at least one toe on the ground, so, in writing about Love, I had to face the statecraft of Love today in America, in 2012. The string of recent gay suicides had me crying at my kitchen table, and I’ll never forget how quickly Batty Boy came to me. To my ears, Batty Boy sounds different to styles I’ve worked with before, but I knew the song would hold an important space on the album. I am honored to speak up for the issue. I did not foresee a reggae influence for Bluejay, although in hindsight it makes sense. While many of my peers were growing up listening to The Beatles and Led Zeppelin, I grew up with reggae music. My mother was a fan of reggae legends like Bob Marley and UB40, both of whom have enough records in their discography to host parties all week without hearing the same song twice. In Burnin’ Soul, I honor my mother, and I honor her daughter, my sister that she left on this Earth so early in life. As the messenger, I carry her spirit to where she wanted her ashes spread, Kingston, Jamaica. The other side of Heritage on Mercury is not as idealistic. My grandmother Eileen recently passed away, and was burned without a funeral while I was in Tallahassee taking my final exams. The grave she picked out next to my grandfather lies empty. On Request Line, I cast a spell known as a défixion. A défixion in ancient Greece was often a tablet written in stone that casts nothing more than the sentiment “I know what you did.” Like the music, I suppose I’ve started out unassuming and ended in a dark place. Enjoy Mercury. The music is now yours. Love, Jay