London trio headboy have shared their new single Reservoir – the latest taste of the band’s upcoming debut EP ‘Was It What You Thought’, out June 9th via Blitzcat Records. In recent months the band have played host to an exhilarating run of sold-out headline shows in the capital, alongside notable support slots with Porridge Radio, Goat Girl, DEADLETTER, Peaness, Melin Melyn, Hotel Lux, Heartworms and THUS LOVE.
Swaying from lo-fi bedroom tones to tumultuous blasts of snarling post-punk, headboy’s blend of influences, ranging from Sleater-Kinney and Radiohead to Modest Mouse and Grizzly Bear informs the immediacy of their sound, whilst the band also note the impact of post-punk and no wave acts á la Gang Of Four, Orange Juice, Pixies and Television.
Consisting of guitarist/bassist and vocalist Mars West (they/them), bassist/guitarist vocalist Jess Collins (she/they) and drummer Oli Birbeck (they/them), headboy have already established themselves as a beguiling force to be reckoned with on the live stage, cultivating a devoted following in London and further afield, following press and radio tips from Steve Lamacq (BBC 6 Music), So Young Magazine, The Independent, Gigwise, The Rodeo + more.
New single Reservoir tells a story of passion, intimacy and connection in the disorientating aftermath of a breakup; venturing into single life. Delivered through a lens of deceptively dark, climactic post-punk, Reservoir tracks those brief, fleeting moments of lust, in a haze of sweaty, dimly lit clubs.
What started out as a demo Mars West recorded at 3am after a night out, has evolved into a racing portrayal of infatuation and unaddressed sexual tension.
Speaking on the lyrical inspiration behind Reservoir, lyricist Mars West said “This song is about what you think this song is about. Or maybe not. You are over the breakup and now desperately trying to work out if your crush is crushing on you too. Small smoke signals of attraction. Sustained eye contact. Microscopic hand movements. The back and forth – a stilted game of tennis. Are you really ready to begin all this again?”
The accompanying video for Reservoir was directed by the band’s own Mars West. On its creation and themes, they said: “Shot in 24 hours around our hometown of London, the video draws on themes of connection and tension. It serves as an eerie but in some ways softer counterpoint to the track. New connections can make us feel alien; walking the line between excitement and fear. An ode to London nights, dive in deep.” Watch the video for Reservoir via YouTube below.
headboy’s much-anticipated debut EP ‘Was It What You Thought’ was born amidst a period of acute political turbulence. Rediscovering and reflecting on the importance of friendship and loyalty during that time, ending with a heartfelt treatise on loss and vulnerability; ultimately the EP forms a study into the often cyclical, yet always unpredictable nature of life itself.
An examination of knowing and not knowing, ‘Was It What You Thought’ was written during 2022 and recorded over that summer at Hackney Studios in East London with producer Joe Futak. The EP’s four tracks draw on the community-led London scene they’ve become a key cog in after a year of intense gigging. “We pretty much condensed every emotion we’ve felt in the past two years into 14 minutes. There are moments of anger, fear, and sadness, but also moments of joy, or acceptance, at least,” guitarist and vocalist Jess added.
‘Was It What You Thought’ EP track list
1. Resevoir
2. Sheep’s Skin
3. Cement
4. Jackal Lake
headboy will release their debut EP ‘Was It What You Thought’ on June 9th via Blitzcat Records, available to pre-order on 12″ white vinyl here. New single Reservoir is out now.
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