Mary Simpson Mercy, is the lead guitarist and a singer for the band, Ace of Cups. The Ace of Cups is an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1967 during the Summer of Love era. The band has been described as one of America’s first all-female rock bands. After taking several decades off to raise families and live their lives, the band is back together and in the studio finalizing their self-titled album. Their newest studio project is scheduled for release in the April of 2018, and had some major names attached to its production, including Jackson Brown, Taj Mahal, Buffy St. Marie, Jorma Kaulkonen of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, Bob Weir of Grateful Dead, and Dan Shea, who has produced albums with Santana, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and Lady Antebellum. In this conversation, we talk about the new album, Buddhism and mindfulness, alternative lifestyle choices, American culture, and life in the 1960’s counter culture. Enjoy!