Amid global uncertainty and conflict, UK duo Merlin Swann, made up of singer-songwriter Lesley Bullen and songwriter Davy Riley, have re-introduced their moving track Needle in the Haystack on the Hill. Written with the hope of creating a modern peace anthem, the song speaks to the futility of war and the greater damage inflicted not just on humanity but on the planet itself. “We always wanted to write a peace anthem with everything going on around the world,” says Bullen. “Hopefully by listening to Needle, people will realise that fighting won’t make a difference in the end—we’re not just killing one another, we’re slowly killing the planet.” The duo stress that the track also carries a message of hope: that peace may one day prevail.
Lesley Bullen’s musical journey began at just 12, influenced by folk and country greats such as John Denver, Fleetwood Mac, and Karen Carpenter, as well as Northern folk traditions. By 14 she was already performing in the Northern Club Scene, quickly establishing herself as a versatile solo artist. Her career blossomed into forming the country band Bulleon, recording original material in Nashville, and touring across the UK. A multi-instrumentalist, Bullen has spent the last two decades writing, performing, and producing songs rich with layered sounds and heartfelt storytelling.
Her partner in Merlin Swann, Davy Riley, shares a similar love for folk and country songwriting. With publishing contracts in the 1990s and notable successes such as Silver Moon, recorded by US artist Bobby G Rice, Riley’s career has been decorated with songwriting awards including the International Songwriters Association Award for Best Lyric in 2000. His collaboration with Bullen in the late ’90s produced Needle in the Haystack on the Hill, which was nominated for the prestigious Song of Peace Award in Ireland.
After a hiatus following a serious accident in 2002, Riley returned to music alongside Bullen in 2024. Together, they are reviving their back catalogue while introducing new songs under the Merlin Swann banner. With streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube offering access to new audiences, Needle in the Haystack on the Hill is finding renewed life as a powerful call for peace—timely, timeless, and deeply relevant in today’s world.
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