Our main man Pete Bott, aka Messy Eater, has graced our pages once again with another fantastic single, the evocatively titled ‘I Think I’m Headed For A Breakdown‘. This release really builds on the eccentric sonic universe that this British artist has carefully crafted over a series of tracks, including recent additions ‘On The Right Track’ and ‘Slowcoach’. As a long-time supporter of the Messy Eater project, we’ve become well accustomed to Bott‘s knack for wit, invention and genre-blending prowess; with this new single, you get all of that and more. This intricate composition is peppered with so many audible treats, including rap-adjacent bars, warbling synthwave melodies and even excerpts of self-help guru tapes.
As the title alludes to, this artist tackles mental health issues and the effect of societal stigma with a refreshing honesty and musical audacity; a combination which is rare to come across. The chaos especially stands out with its darkly comedic commentary, “I’m headed for a breakdown… when is my next holiday? I need a duvet day.” Throughout the track, the striking lyrics hum with internalised anxiety set off by a dizzying backdrop of old-school hip-hop beats, Latin jazz piano samples and those signature bass grooves. It’s playfully chaotic and yet the human experience of mental health struggles doesn’t lose any of its impact. Tracks like ‘I Think I’m Headed For A Breakdown‘ make you feel less alone, particularly if you’re facing tough and testing times.
As the third single from the upcoming EP, Southern Fried, this one stands out as a wild, wonderful and self-aware alt-pop gem. Our main takeaway: life might be absurd, but with Messy Eater it somehow makes sense.
You can also listen to ‘I Think I’m Headed For A Breakdown’ in our Shades of Pop and Outsiders Club playlists.
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