Weekend Punks – Backseat Driver (2021)
With their single ‘Backseat Driver’, Weekend Punks bring a mix of alternative rock and surf pop to our ears. Packed with the feeling of the summer sun, the single is awash with nostalgia for places we have never actually been to. Drenched in reverb, the single is a hazy exploration of sound and experiences that you are sure to remember for a long time.
Matthew Bayford (guitars), Rosie Blacher (vocals), David Fletcher (drums) and Matthew Mead (bass) bring the sun and sea to our ears through their music. With this track, they take us on a summer road trip with a slight questioning of the fun to be had. Written between Southampton and Reykjavik, the single is an easy song to listen to that really treats you to what the band has to offer.
‘Backseat Driver’ slowly builds through the opening to draw you into the summer vibes. There is a really warm feeling to the melody that heats your skin like the sun streaming through the windows of the car as you drive down the open road. The light and happiness of the melody is a little at odds with the lyrics at times but this creates a delightful contrast. While you can hear the surf-pop influence on the melody, this is really light and gives way to a more indie-rock vibe. Throughout the single, the melody rises and falls to emphasise the vocals which is really great. The easiness of the music showcases the musical prowess of the band.
As the melody builds in the opening, Blacher’s vocals smoothly bring the sadder side of the summer vibes to life. Her performance is delicate and bright but the lyrics are sadder than her performance and the music has you thinking. There is a yearning to do something fun with someone you care about but this is tempered with the feeling that they may not feel the same. There are some serious unrequited feelings in this track that come through the vocals that are entirely too catchy for their own good.
Weekend Punks bring a soft and warm feeling to lyrics that tell a slightly different tale in the rock-pop tones of ‘Backseat Driver’. The melody fills you with the warmth of summer and the freedom of the open road. The vocals tell a different story of wanting to have fun but not being sure the person you are with wants to.
Find out more about Weekend Punks on their Instagram and Spotify.
