HEADBOY: ‘WAS IT WHAT YOU THOUGHT’ EP REVIEW
The north London trio are upfront and energetic on their debut EP
Instantly recognisable for their frenetic, feelings-first sound, headboy have spent the last few years steadily gathering their fanbase, aided by a run of live shows and the release of their first singles. They have a knack for bringing emotions into their whirlpool of shoe-gazy post-punk, without the noise ever dimming the intensity of how they’re feeling. Instead, it’s a visceral, clearly cathartic release of energy – and their debut EP, Was It What You Thought, is no exception. Taking stock of both its internal and external prompts, the record sees headboy attempting to navigate the upheaval of recent years, eventually finding comfort in the immediacy of friendships.
Opening track ‘Reservoir’ is imbued with all the nervous energy of its inspiration. First penned in the aftermath of a night out by guitarist and vocalist Mars West, the song recalls the anxiety and excitement of a first encounter: the “small smoke signals of attraction”, as Mars describes it. Turning outwards, second track ‘Sheep’s Skin’ – delightfully dubbed “an ode to wtf moments” by guitarist and vocalist Jess Collins – was born from the suffocating chaos of the pandemic. While 2023 feels marked by a willful amnesia, with most people reluctant to be reminded of the lockdown days, headboy manage to approach the topic in a way that’s not utterly bleak. Against a grooving riff, the collective tomfoolery (read: terrifying ineptitude) of the US and UK governments feed the track’s palpable frustration, while the clear-cut lyrics are some of the record’s most memorable
Photo credit: Saskia Kovandzich
Threaded with a bouncing acoustic riff, ‘Cement’ could be the EP’s overall standout offering. Building to a cinematic crescendo, the track deftly explores existentialism and friendship; it’s about choosing to take your eyes off the horizon to stand beside your friends instead. It’s followed – literally and thematically – by the EP’s finale, ‘Jackal Lake’. Mars and Jess’ vocals marry together as the song struggles with difficult times and dependency on your mates, the enveloping sound anchored by Oli Birbeck’s drums. The lake in question – an entirely fictional body of water – represents those that Mars submerges themself in when cold water swimming; a physical and metaphorical way for them to let go and clear their head.
Was It What You Thought is a self-reflective and self-assured debut, leaving you with the overwhelming sense that headboy are confident in their writing. Their ability to translate feelings so directly is their undoubted strength, and will hopefully remain at the forefront of their future work.
Photo credit: Saskia Kovandzich
