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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Brett Leyde, 'Mercy EP'
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Brett Leyde
Mercy EP

Artist Info: Discography
Street Date: June 8, 2025
Style: Indie / Alternative
Official Site: Instagram Profile
Buy It: Amazon Music



Portland native Brett Leyde spent the first half of 2025 releasing a few singles and trying to get his name and art out there for whoever would be interested to listen. This culminated in early June with the release of his debut EP, Mercy, a lovely collection of five songs that are as soft and soothing as they are worshipful.

Mercy does a great job of blurring stylistic lines. It's a slower EP that uses a mixture of soundscapes, synth-based ethereal sounds, piano, and acoustic guitar, with minimal drumming that is often quiet enough to blend in with its surroundings when present. It's certainly not an album for those wanting quick and to-the-point songs made for radio; the opening track "Trees" is nearly six minutes long and really takes its time, but the beauty of the music and the focus on trusting God, when He moves you out of the place you felt comfortable, make a wonderful opener that sets the tone for the remainder. "Zion" brings in some light, electronic percussion and violins, while "Betrayed" makes an almost drastic change and incorporates some electric guitar. The song acts as a short, mid-EP interlude about the betrayal of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and, though the song is still a bit on the lighter side musically, the guitar riffs feel oddly appropriate for the content matter.

Also appropriate is the follow-up song, "Giving In." While "Betrayed" also sings about personal betrayal, "Giving In" goes on to ask about how to forgive. Admittedly, the song can be a bit repetitive, but Leyde's humility in asking for help with forgiveness is admirable and inspiring. Finally, the closing track, "Mercy," is possibly the strongest song here. The mix of organic and electronic instrumentation is fantastic, Brett and Katie's vocals blend so well together, and the lyrics could make you melt into a puddle as you meditate on the depth of God's mercy and forgiveness. The bridge contains some of my favorite lyrics on the whole EP: "Hiding from the judgment throne / the balance of the debt I owe / the volume of the silence creeps in, it's deafening / even though I've scorned and mocked / You're standing at the door and You knock / love will never force its way in, but it doesn't leave / it cries mercy, mercy, mercy on me." Man, how good is that?

Again, those wanting upbeat, loud, fast worship tunes won't be finding what they're looking for here. Mercy is soft, gentle, and poignant, with a lot to offer for folks who want worship music that sounds more like Sufjan Stevens, The Glorious Unseen, or maybe even the slower offerings of Coldplay and Death Cab For Cutie. Brett Leyde has already proven himself to be a gifted songwriter and musician with this EP, and I legitimately can't wait to hear more from him.

- Review date: 9/8/25, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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JFH Indie Spotlight Review . Record Label: None
. Album length: 5 tracks: 21 minutes, 25 seconds
. Street Date: June 8, 2025
. Buy It: Amazon Music

  1. Trees (5:51)
  2. Zion (4:39)
  3. Betrayed (2:04)
  4. Giving In (3:21)
  5. Mercy (feat. Katie Leyde) (5:31)
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This Friday, October 3, 2025
ALBUMS
BASECAMP Beautiful Like the Truth [Polished Arrow]
Pat Barrett I've Got A Fire [Capitol CMG]
Elan Brio Millennium Funk (independent)
Kristene DiMarco MEMORADUM - EP [Bethel]
Heath McNease Autumn Sessions, Vol. 2 (independent)
Mystical Death Carnation EP (Remastered) [Rottweiler Records]
Matt Redman Life & Breath [Integrity]
Thrive Worship Jesus Song - EP [Integrity Music]
Bay Turner Better Days - EP [Centricity Music]
John Van Deusen As Long As I Am In The Tent of This Body I Will Make a Joyful Noise Pt. 1 [Anotherland]

SINGLES
Gabby Barrett Ain't Supposed To Be - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Mark Bishop Time To Let Go and Let God - Single [Sonlite]
Franni Cash Church Clothes - Single [Capitol CMG]
ChristianXXII & Futuristic Already Won - Single [DREAM]
Damian Back To You - Single [DREAM]
Dex the nerd who loves Jesus Salvation - Single [Syntax]
Drenae To the Cross - Single [Syntax]
Emerson Day This House Won't Fall - Single [Fair Trade]
Chris Ekiss Life's Biggest Questions - Single [Provident]
The Forerunner Manifesto (independent)
for KING + COUNTRY World on Fire (feat. Taylor Hill) - Single [Curb Records]
Forrest Frank JESUS IS COMING BACK SOON (feat. Josiah Queen) - Single [River House]
Vic Lucas Make a Way - Single [Syntax]
No Vain Glory MOVE YOUR BODY - Single [Syntax]
Nathan Oswalt MAKE UP YOUR MIND - Single (independent)
Drew Parker Blame Jesus - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Razzie SHORTCUTS - Single [Syntax]
Shamash The Gulf Between Us - Single [Rottweiler]
Anne Wilson Carry Me - Single [Capitol CMG]
Zahriya Zachary Stay - Single [Bethel]

VINYL
Bleach Live/The Lost Show Vinyl (independent)

Next Friday, October 10, 2025
ALBUMS
Citizens m us eum [Anotherland Records]
Jesus Culture Send The Fire: Live From London [Capitol CMG]
Tasha Layton Life in Me [BEC]

SINGLES
Holly Brand One Thing He Wouldn't Do - Single [Integrity]
Chosen Road Daddy Was a Navy Man - Single [Thoroughbred]
Drakeford Writing on the Wall - Single (independent)
Amy Jay Back to What's Natural - Single (independent)
Run51 Song Of My Soul - Single [DREAM]
Zane Vickery Name (Live at Greenbriar) - Single (independent)
Vineyard Worship & Dreaming The Impossible Praise You For Eternity - Single [Vineyard]


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