For some acts, it’s clear from the first listen that the heart of their music is more than sound – it’s a relationship, a shared language, a private world that they’ve graciously invited listeners to step into. IDER, the London-born alt-pop duo of Megan Markwick and Lily Somerville, is one such act. From writing songs together in their shared flat to gearing up for stages across the UK, Europe, and North America, IDER’s story is one of friendship, creative connection, and with their new third album, a reclamation of what it means to be ‘Late to the World’.
The first seeds of IDER were planted in a classroom where Markwick and Somerville met during their first year of university. “When we met, we were instant friends. It felt like we’d already met before and were just picking up where we left off,”, Markwick and Somerville tell us. “We would hang out and chat and dream and write songs together.” Their chance encounter-turned-quick-connection deepened when the two moved into a shared flat after finishing university. They’d been making music together as long as they’d been friends, but in the immersive musical environment their home became, IDER was born. Their name is a testament to the distinct space they’d carved out for themselves to explore the connection in their creativity – a place to sit and obsess over the story, the meaning, and the picture they were trying to paint with words: “IDER was a word that didn’t exist yet, something that represents the world we have created together.”
Markwick and Somerville’s chemistry – personal and sound-wise – is the heart of IDER. Audio-wise, the duo’s voices work together in a way that feels distinct, whether it’s tracks from the lo-fi electronic folk world of their earlier days or from the more anthemic alt-pop space their music has evolved into. When it comes to the duo’s relationship, Markwick and Somerville’s ability to bring out the best in each other is the driving force behind everything they create: “We push each other to say what we really mean and get to the heart and root of the message. We challenge each other to always find the most powerful chords, melodies and harmonies.”
When it comes to deciding what stories and emotions to bring into their music as a two-piece, songwriting is as much about intuition as it is about collaboration. Markwick and Somerville’s process thrives on their ability to balance vulnerability with support, whether they are bringing a joint idea to life or stepping back to let the other express a deeply personal story or emotion. Their openness with each other translates into music that often resonates widely, creating moments of intimacy for their listeners.
“We have many goals and dreams but seeing people connect to our music in real life is always the greatest achievement.”
Revisiting the inspiration behind the music is a complex experience for IDER. They describe how some feelings lose their intensity, their weight lifted by the act of creation, while others resurface unexpectedly, allowing the duo to find new meaning in their songs. “It’s a very bizarre thing. Some emotions dissolve once they’ve found a voice. Songs that meant so much to us when we were writing them lose personal significance, so then they belong to other people,”, they explain. “However, some emotions come and find you years later in slightly different manifestations, and the songs can hit all over again but for different reasons.” The world of Markwick and Somerville has since grown far beyond their flat in North London, leading to some of the most rewarding moments of their career – touring with Sigrid, performing at the 3Arena in Dublin, taking their music to the US for the first time, and eventually, making their third album, ‘Late to the World.’
The eclectic record captures the friends’ growth and evolution, the title encapsulating a theme that has resonated deeply with Markwick and Somerville through the years: reclaiming what it means to feel like a late bloomer. “It’s about being on your own journey and embracing it,”, they state. “It’s a rebellion against societal pressures, particularly those put onto women – unlearning the conditioning and narratives that were told to us as children. It’s about turning up to life unapologetically at your own pace and in your own way.”
They describe their upcoming record as their boldest and most intentional work to date. Beginning the writing process with the slower pace of the East Coast and finishing the album in a South Wales residential studio, the uninterrupted time and “beautiful protected bubble of creativity” allowed the duo to explore new depths in their music: “There was magic in these environments. They felt protected and allowed us to be consumed in the writing and our world.”
They describe how the making of ‘Late to the World’ was an opportunity to challenge their writing and production and to learn to kill their darlings, the importance of play, and accepting that nothing can be forced. They admit that the biggest challenge was completing the title track, ‘Late to the World,’ which went through countless iterations before reaching its final form. “It was one of the first songs we started and the last one to be finished,”, they share. “It definitely went on a journey – through different genres, lyrics, and key changes.”
Despite the challenges, the duo emerged with an album they are immensely proud of. For IDER, making this record felt like moving on to the next stage of their growth as individuals and as musicians. “We’ve made the record we’ve always wanted to make, and we’re so proud of it,”, the two artists exclaim. “In some ways, it does feel like we’ve unlocked a new level or ‘phase,’ as it probably does every time. But we’ve also realised that this journey is ever-evolving. IDER is the constant.”
“IDER was a word that didn’t exist yet, something that represents the world we have created together.”
IDER’s evolution from the lo-fi electronic folk of their early releases to the bold, high- fidelity alt-pop of their more recent work is a reflection of their growing confidence. This confidence in the new record has allowed them to embrace big live drums and more anthemic arrangements, expanding their sound while staying true to their roots as “lyrics girls” who prioritize storytelling.
With ‘Late to the World’ out in the world, IDER is preparing for an ambitious tour across the UK, Europe, and North America, the perfect opportunity to showcase their growth and watch their shared world echo in the lives of their listeners. “We can’t wait to perform these songs live and meet people along the way,”, they say. “We have many goals and dreams but seeing people connect to our music in real life is always the greatest achievement.”
IDER’s story is a testament to the power of creative connection. From their beginnings as university friends to their current status as a globally recognized alt-pop duo, their growth has been marked by authenticity, vulnerability, and unwavering partnership. With ‘Late to the World,’ Markwick and Somerville continue to invite listeners into the world they’ve created together – a familiar space where many people will be able to find pieces of themselves.
Written by Bernice Santos // Photography by Nick Walker
GEM Magazine 