Six years on from the global covid-19 pandemic and we’re still experiencing the after-effects. We’re all aware of its negative impact, but as with every dark cloud, there’s a silver lining. For some of us, the various lockdowns and isolations gave us the much needed-space to reflect, look inwards and figure out exactly what it is we want from life. For Isle of Mull resident Finlay Birch, he started making and releasing music from his bedroom in 2020. That first foray into the independent music scene has now been rekindled with a string of fresh singles this year.
We’re catching up with the Scottish singer-songwriter on his third song of 2026, ‘Inside Your Mind’. The opening has that 90s new wave atmosphere with those richly reverberated strings, crashing drums and moody bass, akin to The Smiths’ iconic single ‘How Soon Is Now?’. Adding a pleasant lightness to this indie vibe is Birch‘s relaxed voice, which delivers soothing and slightly melancholic melodies.
Throughout the track, Birch unpacks the weight of emotional unrest and the pressures of daily life, particularly in how that affects one’s relationships with others. What we really like about this song is how, for all of the relatability and self-awareness, it still arrives at an optimistic conclusion. Supported by a more impassioned turn in the instrumentation, the chorus puts forward that more positive outlook: “because one day baby, we’ll have memories of making it through the end, because I know sometimes inside your mind, you see it like I do, like I do.”
With ‘Inside Your Mind’, this songwriter really leans into warmth and depth, showing just how far he’s come from those early bedroom demos. It’s also a taster of Finlay Birch‘s forthcoming debut album, Weight Will Unwind, set for release on June 12th.
You can also listen to ‘Inside Your Mind’ in our Indie Rockers playlist.
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