We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Anthony Gomez aka MERK € a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Anthony, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I’m a independent music artist, I started making music at the age of thirteen when my parents bought me my first Guitar a black and white Squier I stell have to this day. I started teaching myself how to play, I had a VHS my parents got me showing how to play ‘smoke on the water’ by Deep Purple, Black Sabbath ‘Iron man’ and AC/DC ‘Hells Bells’. I would also check out books and videos from the library, also printing out tabs with notes of different bands and music to learn how to play. I had a book that my parents also bought me with the guitar teaching all the notes and chords, how every note was played as in the beats and counts for every measure also how every note was played counting the bars. So Self tought, I was in two bands before my high school friend my brother and I formed Fatal Death. We played lots of shows had the most fun doing that forsure Parting like Rock stars you know lol. We were together for four years before we broke up in two thousand nine, we played our last show at the white rabbit. Than after that I just started writing music and Rapping becoming an independent HipHop/Rap music Artist, still to this day I am still writing music and Playing the guitar.

I’ve been Rapping for as long as I can remember as a kid I was into rap and Rock but was always Rapping, but going publicly with my rap and really taking it more seriously, has been going on for fourteen years now, but at the time I was only uploading my music to YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. But iv been now uploading all my music on streaming platforms like Spotify, AppleMusic, Deezer, tital, AmazonMusic, IHeartradio, Pandora Music, YouTubeMusic, being on air on the Radio, internet Radio , FM Radio, being invited to interviews on podcast, radio shows and so on, for four years now.
I go by the Artist name MERK €, I chose the eural sign to stand out from the other merk out there. I also chose the name MERK because every beat I decide to write to I kill it and it becomes a hit is why I go by the name MERK. Iv also chose it because I would say that word often when ether competing in a game or any compitesstion I was in as will. MERK also stand for ‘music entertainment of real knowledge’ because back then I use to write an Rap about lots of things going on around the world all the nigative and ugly things with our world and leaders. Purity much my roots going back use to be a lot about politics, political and dark things that happen everyday more poetic and dark but really just a mixture of everything and all that we go threw in our life’s. Ether it’s for fun, Deep thoughts, parting, story telling, dancing and heart Ace is why I go by MERK cause I can write and Rap about anything. All because I love making music and writing new songs for everyone and everything I feel see or hear about or been threw. Just telling a story from my past or even to this day now or just to get Somthing off my chest or just writing about good time’s, having a good time or bad. Purity much anything or what ever I feel when I’m listening to a beat. I can be working on music for hours it just make me feel good and also helps me relax and forget about all the negative things going on in this world. It also makes me feel good knowing that my fans enjoy my music also that my music can make a different in someone else’s life knowing that I can pute a smile on someone face while they listen to my music. Also love engaging with my fans and seen what they think about what they hear from my music or what they just have to say too is another thing as will. Love all the support I get from my fans knowing all the hard work I put into a song pays off because at the end really with out all that love and support means nothing. So for that I say thank you all you are all awesome much love to you all always, for as long as I’m in this world we growing together and reaching for that crown together as one always.

Iv had my up and down from starttting to learn the guitar to even being in bands and having to find new musicians because not everyone agrees or liking surtan music you play. But I would say it was really more hard for me when I started rapping from making all my music to burning CD and handing them out to people at stores. But it really hit me when my laptop got hacked and I lost all the music iv worked on having to start everything all overs again. The real main part was having to pay to have my laptop fix, finding out everything iv worked on was either erased or completely lost. At the time I was also going to school for Psychology and working full time witch would get in the way of me completting my school work and having the time or money to buy a new labtop to start my music overs again. So what I did was just kept writing music even though I knew I couldn’t record or uploading my music to YouTube, I would just write my music down on my Itouch at the time or on paper and just kept doing that for the next three years on to I finally found a job we’re I had enough money to buy a new labtop and start recording again. Even though I was living at my parent house sleeping on the couch I had no place to do my recording. So at the time i still would just record when I could I would do some of my recording and practice my lyrics in my car at the time as will. I was having lots of up and down with my music and recording it with no place to do so, but that never stopped me from writing or playing my Guitar. It wasn’t on to the year twinty seventeen when I finally had the Chance to start recording again and uploaded my music onto YouTube, Instagram and Facebook I mainly struggled with having a job with good pay to move out of my parents house and getting my own place because of that, I could never get my own place because I never made enough money to afford a place of my own. So lots of my problems was always that, stopping me from moving on and making my music because I had to put it aside for a while to keep working and make enough money to move out, is why I had lots of up and downs and having to stop what I love to do witch is making music. That’s why iv been making music going on twinty four years now counting from when I got my first guitar and creating music to today. Plus the time’s where things just turned around lots of on and off times when ever I could. From losing all my music because of being hacked to not having anyplace to record but my car and money problem and full time work and only finding the time to work on my music when I could and sleeping on my parents couch for years. Iv never stopped doing what I love, I never gave up and still going strong to this day. So that Is why I say never give up on your dream no matter the opsticals or problems that stand in your way. Do what you love to do and move on never back down to you reach were you are meant to be.

What I am proud of, what I can say rite now is me and everything iv accomplish so far, knowing we’re I came from and how hard I worked to getting to were I am now. Being my own independent person and doing everything myself and making all my dreams come true specifically because I never really knew how to read or spell. Being a shy kid growing up I would push myself to become somebody. Teaching myself how to read and practicing my spelling and writing, plus playing football in school to overcome my shyness. Iv always worked to become better than I was and Im really glad I did because iv accomplished a lot so far and only growing bigger. I am also proud to have parents like mine who always believe in me and supported everything iv done growing up to now and always by myside. I couldn’t ask for anything better than that love you mom love you dad always and forever to the edge of the galaxy and back no matter what you are the best parents anyone could ever ask for thank you.

I was a shy kid but was also curious about the world and space. I can look up to the night sky for hours, still to this day I do the same. I loved learning knew things, I loved playing basketball and football. Lots of video games and listening to music either it was Rock or Rap I would love to remember the lyrics and singing along with the music. I would also love to draw a lot and creating comic characters, teaching myself knew things was always fun for me. I would also record funning voices creating characters and creating my own radio shows, pretending to be the radio host and recording music on to my casset player, fun times. I was really out going and once I overcame my shyness I would make friends and play power rangers and kick ball to even hockey with my neighborhood friends, ridding bikes racing down the street, also playing Pogs if any one remember Pogs. They really do need to bring them back on the real lol man” i had lots of fun playing Pogs, trading them out and stuff. I was a creative kid growing up, I was always teaching myself Somthing new everyday. Now that I look back at it” it’s crazy how back then as kid’s we would do what we needed to do to keep entertained and that’s because even way before us was even way more less to do you know. But now to see how this generation is now its mind blowing. All this new tech, phones with all kinds of gadgets on them lol. But I will say this never let that get in your way of doing something amazing and creating somthing great being the best as you can be and know that you are that always. Never give up stay strong, keep creating and sharing your art, either its music, painting, writing, dancing, acting, drawing, gaming, sports, learning or playing an instrument anything that make you happy go out there and show the world and never let the nigative get in your way. At the end you our what matters and you our your own friend or enemy so be you and be the best at it then you ever thought you could be because you are the Greatest, always.
Your boy MERK €

Anthony , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an independent HipHop/Rap music Artist, I am also a musician i play the guitar a Song writer, publisher, producer, Curator and Artist working on all my music albums art work. I am also writing a book iv been working on since two thousand nine for years now, from my first copy being deleted by accident, but iv started rewriting it again in twinty seventeen the title of my book is ‘one Mans Dream’ it’s a Horror, Thriller, and suspense novel. Really hoping to be done with that soon that’s forsure.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I will say just get your music or any art you are doing out there. Specially with all these social apps and tiktok is one that’s growing fast to. Keep your fans or followers up dated on any new projects coming out or any colabs with other artist any shows or live post you got going on. Another thing keep in contact with your fans too that is key, even if you don’t talk or comment, share, like, tag or do it everyday or every other day. Just let your fans or followers know you there, because in the end they are your blessing just as well your family too.

If you are just getting started, what to know is this to get your music out there Sign up to Distrokid they are my Distributer how I send all my music around the world on all platforms. You can find the links in my bio just look up my handle @Merk2486 is were you can find all my music & social media pages

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

I don’t do NFTs but I did look up on them and was going to create one, with my character I drew up for my album and for my T-shirts, but I never did, but I really can’t say much about them other than I do think its a great way to create and make money if you happens to sale some, or all of your NFTs make that Token

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/MERK2486
• Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/Merk2486_
• Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/Merk2486
• Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/Merk2486
• Youtube: https://www.YouTube.com/Merk2486
• Other:
  My interview with DJ Mr Real Music on iHeartRadio Power Hour on MNTC Radio podcast: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-power-hour-hosted-by-mr-mu-31158963/episode/indie-artist-spotlight-interview-merk-103353265/?cmp=android_share&sc=android_social_share&pr=false
• Sign up to Distrokid get 7% off your first purchase for the year with my personal VIP discount link here: https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/1301354
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/55pFmtkGF16zacuBQktjNr?si=sBEI8FpySxCrOeGCEoFtNg
• AppleMusic: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/merk-%E2%82%AC/1465433142?ls
• AmazonMusic: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B07S9NVFF1/merk-%E2%82%AC?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US
• Tidal: tidal.com/browse/artist/15866781
• Deezer: https://deezer.page.link/xwa85WSUEv4qxj2V7
• IHeartradio: https://www.iheart.com/artist/merk-34956588/?cmp=web_share&embed=true
• PandoraMusic: https://pandora.app.link/25CvNMdvKgb