Single Review: Read My Mind

Relationships are a complex beast. The title of this debut single from Auckland based The Backchat is going to be familiar with anyone who has ever had a relationship that lasted more than 5 mins. If we could all read each other’s minds things might be a lot simpler or a lot more honest.

Opposites attract. It creates conflict. Conflict creates excitement. It also creates friction. Friction creates resistance. Resistance results in attitude and Backchat. Aha! the circle of life all summed up in these three minutes of funky soul filled pop with a twist of ginger.

Listening to this song is akin to tasting spicy food for the first time. Drinking alcohol for the first time. Getting one of those chocolate bars where some idiot thought it would be clever to add chili to the mix.

It is silky smooth and makes you sway along to its hypnotic rhythm, but it also has a bite to it. There is a gritty attitude and intelligence running through those funk bass lines and subtle but perfectly timed drum work.

The music here would stand alone on its own as an instrumental track but by adding the sublime, smoky vocals of Bekah, who seems to be channeling everything from Lilly Allen to Sade, what we have here is something very special.

There are many bands in this genre who have great vocalists and musicians. This isn’t punk. This music requires a level of control, but you can still feel the friction and grind in this song. The clash of musical influences fluctuates throughout. Everything about this is classy and sassy

Backchat is an interesting new band and one band to watch, hear and feel.