Indie-Band, Mucksavage release latest shoegaze dreampop track

Music Review | 20th Feb, 2025 Mucksavage

Conscious of not being pigeonholed into a box that doesn't fit them, Belfast indie-band, Mucksavage, return with their latest single, Watto, blending their spiky slacker rock with a shoegaze wall of noise and ethereal dream pop melody.

Frontman/guitarist/songwriter James Foy has always used the band as a vessel to help process complex emotions and make sense of them, and Watto is no different. In the midst of a turbulent time; facing the breakdown of a long-term relationship, dealing with a debilitating medical condition, and having to move home, James felt lost and disconnected from the world around him. He says, I felt like an alien on a planet that I had no business being on.

Having just finished playing drums on tour for Belfast shoegazers Virgins, James took this influence and channelled his swirling emotions into a song. Written in the small hours of the morning, the music came together quickly, but the lyrics didn't flow, and the song was shelved. Once Mucksavage was up and running, James met bassist Cleo, who became the song's muse as they grew closer and eventually got together. Suddenly, things made sense.

Watto song opens with a tsunami of fuzz on guitar and bass, courtesy of Death By Audio pedals, while the kick and snare drive the song forward. The verses pull back, giving some breathing space as James intones, I've been under the weather since I found out that the weather exists, before the chorus kicks back in: Stuck on a planet I don't know. Both sets of lyrics exemplify the isolation James felt at the time, resolving in the end with I found someone like you, I found someone like Watto. The Star Wars reference is entirely intentional. The signature Telecaster twang is balanced out by a gargantuan bottom end and a T-Rex-thumping kick drum. Vocal harmonies float under the chorus, leaning into the gazier end of their influences.

Mucksavage - Watto (Youtube)

The single, Watto is available through all streaming platforms.

Cover Artwork: Mollie Browne

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