This month’s BITS came together on a brutally cold November day, with the city brimming with festive lights and shops piled high with things many of us don’t need or can’t afford. It was just like Christmas; it was just like Christmas. But before I sing all of the song by Low (miss you, Mimi), let’s push aside the tinsel and bows to unwrap some fresh Scottish music to see us through the end of 2024.
When a song fills your room, it’s easy to imagine the artist has it all figured out – living your dream, creating magic. The reality? Often far messier, and Sarah Gallagher’s ‘Pandemic Babies’ lays that bare. Its raw, relatable lyrics paint a picture of a life that’s far from perfect, but her delivery leaves you rooting for her. It’s comforting, just like that leftover takeaway for breakfast or lunch, and it reminds you that most people’s lives are closer to this song than to the movies.
Linzi Clark also takes the mundane and spins it into artistic endeavour. ‘The Couch’ is, yes, about getting rid of a sofa, but she turns this everyday act into a chilling, darkly cinematic tale. Her impassioned vocals weave through the sparse backing, creating a tension that feels both hypnotic and haunting. If Lana Del Rey ever took a wrong turn and found herself declaring there’s a tunnel under the River Clyde, it might sound something like this. (And no, don’t come at me with ‘well actually’ about the rotunda tunnels or the catacombs under Central; it’s just a line for a music column.)
For something on the funkier side, slide ‘Into the Evening’ with Maranta. This track is as smooth as a late-night sleigh ride, with sleek synths and a rhythm that invites you to either dance with abandon or simply nod knowingly from the sidelines. It’s effortlessly cool, and that same smoothness glimmers through Sonotto’s ‘First Date’, a reflection on dating apps that’s far more uplifting than the subject matter might suggest. Whether you’re swiping left, right, or sitting it out, the lush flourishes offer a hopeful reprieve from the modern dating slog.
If folk with a haunting edge is more your thing, Holly Powers’ debut EP, Let It Run Wild, is worth a listen. It’s an arresting collection, with her imposing picking and commanding vocals balancing wistful introspection and quiet optimism. The result feels as expansive and untamed as the title suggests, leaving you lost in her world in the best way possible.
With a name like Alba Fury, you’d expect their debut single, ‘Out of Time’, to pack a punch – and you wouldn’t be wrong. A murky, post-punk storm built for sweaty, smoke-filled rooms, it’s a brooding anthem that lingers long after the last note.
Edinburgh’s waverley. are just as furious, with ‘How It Starts’ hurtling straight out of your speakers with the intensity of Scotland concluding their Nations League campaign. You can see the climax coming a mile off, but that doesn’t diminish its impact, nor the journey to get there.
There’s always joy in seeing previously SNACK backed artists team up, and Arielle Free joining forces with Be Charlotte for ‘Control’ is a perfect example. This track is pure euphoria: a shout-it-tothe- stars anthem for nights when you’re surrounded by friends, dancing as if no one’s watching. If December’s gloom is getting to you, this might just be your cure.
Keeping things upbeat, archie’s ‘Colourblind’ offers a punch-the-air kind of cheeriness that’s hard to resist. The musical equivalent of pausing to watch George Square’s Christmas lights, simple but unexpectedly joyful.
There’s no SNACK in January, so if your 2025 resolution is to discover more Scottish music, you’ll need to get a head start. Don’t worry – we’ll be back in February to keep you going. Until then, stay warm and make time for what you love. Have a good ’un.
