Meryl Streek has announced his third studio album, Stories They Don’t Teach You At School, set for release on October 9th via Venn Records. Following lead single “Rotten Fruit,” the one-man punk powerhouse has dropped his inspiring follow-up track, “Rags To Riches,” alongside an official music video. The single tackles themes of self-belief, seizing opportunities, and shedding negative influences, with Streek explaining that taking a chance on the project was essential to his own artistic journey.
The accompanying visual for “Rags To Riches”, shot in the home of a young fan known as “Mini Meryl” with help from family and friends, features Streek dressed as a birthday party clown. Serving as a visual metaphor for the modern online landscape, the video highlights the vulnerability required of emerging artists navigating online hostility. He notes,
“I took a chance with this project and if I had never taken the jump I wouldn’t be here right now. Things aren’t always as hard as they seem. It’s about having the courage to let go of people holding you back and encouraging yourself that you can do it. I really feel for emerging bands and artists right now; it takes a lot of vulnerability to put yourself out there when online ‘critics’ who are usually just projecting their own unhappiness, are waiting to tear you down. The clown in the video represents that struggle: he’s doing his absolute best, but the kids just aren’t interested.”
In tandem with the single release, a feature-length tour documentary titled RAGE AGAINST THE DYING OF THE LIGHT: Meryl Streek recently premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh. The 67-minute film captures his uncompromising music, unflinching activism, and tour life, featuring commentary from figures like John Robb, Deb Grant, Pete Holidai, and Oliver Ackerman. The documentary is slated for a wider release in early 2027.
Stories They Don’t Teach You At School promises to push Streek’s sound further through an ambitious array of guest collaborators across music, comedy, and spoken word. The record features contributions from Steve Ignorant (CRASS), comedian Phil Jupitus, Pete Holidai (The Radiators From Space), Laurent “Lags” Barnard (Gallows), and Vinny McCreith, closing with a three-minute spoken word piece by viral sensation Frankie McNamara (Meditations for the Anxious Mind).
