Vistas - 'My Head Feels Strange'
The third single from their highly anticipated EP, Vistas send us into a flurry with ‘My Head Feels Strange’.
Edinburgh based trio Vistas are determined to end 2022 on a high with their latest release, ‘My Head Feels Strange’. A culmination of everything they have achieved so far, this track is fast paced, delivered with punch and urgency, and drops subtle hints at what we can expect next from the band. It is the third track from their upcoming EP and if their social media hype has been anything to go by, ‘The Beautiful Nothing’, which is set to drop early January, will be absolutely mesmerising. They have really been leaning into mystery with this release and ‘My Head Feels Strange’ feels like the next big puzzle piece to what is shaping up to be an exciting new direction for the band.
The song opens with an electric guitar over the sound of static interference. This is something Vistas have been using a lot in their promotion of this track; images from television screens, dial up internet and loading signs that go on endlessly. Its really cool to see a blending of the sonic and visual imagery so quickly and it demonstrates just how much thought has been put into this track. The drum and bass lines join in with the fuzzy noise before everything shifts into focus as the vocals come in.
‘Give up, give in, spinning round my head again so let me drown gently my friend and feel nothing at all. Cause sometimes I regress in myself, I get a little obsessed and upset and I’m not trying to impress, well I guess that’s how the story goes.
Frontman and lead vocalist Prentice delivers the lyrics with a real sense of urgency and immediacy and against the rushing instrumentals this track has so much movement to it. Listening to this track gives you the same feeling as driving through a dark tunnel with flashing lights; it evokes feelings of desperation and persistence and at the same time has a distinctly youthful energy that is filled with unanswered questions and self discovery. Prentice’s tone matches the energy of the track and the instrumentation perfectly - you can really sense the bond between the three boys as their blend and ability to listen to each other is unparalleled.
What’s the point of keeping a broken promise, nothing’s half as good as when you want it. I’ve been burning out if I’m being honest, standing on the edge and my head feels strange.’
As the chorus starts, the instrumentals take a back seat and the vocals are in the spotlight front and centre. The emotion and drive behind these lines has grown compared to the beginning of the song, giving them a greater importance and weight. The feelings that the Vistas are talking about here are universal and instantly relatable but have been written in a way that is so concise and punchy. Backing vocals come in for the titular line ‘standing on the edge and my head feels strange’, and the way that they’re delivered with distance from the mic gives them real tenacity and strength. This will be the line that audiences will shout along to at festivals and gigs to come. Instantly catchy and memorable, they’ve shown again just how well they can write a tune.
As the world looks to their Spotify wrapped, Vistas celebrate an enormous 22 million streams, fitting as we close out 2022. This release is a wonderful way to end what has been a fantastic year for the band. They have toured with everyone from The Courteneers and the Wombats to Jake Bugg and Gerry Cinnamon and have played a huge role in showing the world that Scottish music is here to stay.
Words by Kirsty-Ann Thomson
