LAST Thursday, at around 23.59pm, Chris Greig would have been staring at his computer with the Spotify app open and thinking: "OK, here we go."

Those moments right before a new song goes live is a great leveller for all up and coming artists.

The feeling – one of equal parts elation and dread – is in ascendancy. Will people like it?

In this instance the song was Seen It All Before and, yes, people liked it.

Chris Greig and The Merchants unveiled the new track, following up from the impressive SHY, released earlier this year. It has been met with acclaim and enjoyed the most successful first day in the band's history.

It is on-brand for the four-piece, known for delivering those catchy pop hooks amid some intricate guitar work.

The band is aiming to release further material at some point later on this year. But on the strength of this month's release, there will be more cause for elation than dread in those moments before those songs go live.

Greig told The Weekender: "The reaction to the song has been amazing; it's been really overwhelming. This is the most excited I have felt about releasing a song, just because of the reaction it has received.

"We've had a lot of messages from people saying they love and that it's their favourite song that we have released so far. It has just been incredible.

"Usually when we release a song, we'll find that we'll get about 100-200 streams within the first day. And we see that as a success because what follows is getting added to playlists and things like that.

"But with Seen It All Before we have knocked it right out the park and had around 350 in the first day.

"It is our most successful release in that sense, but I think that is also down to the fact that we know what we are doing a little more – we know how to go about things when releasing a new song."

Seen It All Before is about trying to reach out and help someone in need, only for those efforts to be shunned. It is a fine example of toe-tapping pop-rock and comes complete with a decidedly huge chorus and epic final phase.

The lockdown has scuppered live music in Scotland and has recording sessions for so many bands. Albums have been shelved and tours curtailed. Live streaming has come to the fore with Greig among the many answering the call to provide some light entertainment to hungry music fans.

But that is not to say the band will not be looking at more releases in 2020. Virtual recording session may well be on the cards, with a number of ideas being kicked around.

Greig adds: "Usually, we'd limit ourselves to three releases a year, but we've got plans and are set to do some virtual recording sessions. So, we are set for a couple of releases now. You might see us bringing out two or even three more songs this year.

"We have some songs written and waiting to be recorded and we have a few older songs that I'd like to re-release. I have one song hidden away, but it's quite a special one so I'm not sure if I want to release it or not. Might be one to wait until we have an album to put it on."

  • Seen It All Before is available to stream online now.