Track of the Day: Where We Sleep – Headlong (2025)
Binding the influences of acts like PJ Harvey, Garbage, Massive Attack, and Kate Bush, singer-songwriter Beth Rettig waves a woven sonic blanket of alternative rock, grunge, and art-pop with obscure, off-kilter flair as Where We Sleep. Using an enigmatic attitude and powerful melodies, Rettig’s solo project – Where We Sleep – paints “odes to the broken” with a “…deeply personal, poetic exploration of the world…” Following her 2023 singles ‘Broken Bones’ and ‘Bang Bang’, Rettig releases her first single in two years – ‘Headlong’. Join us as we jump into the tune.
Just ahead of Where We Sleep’s upcoming album, The Arsonist, ‘Headlong’ is a sweep of hard-hitting music dancing across your skin and slowly seeping into your soul. Recorded and produced by Rettig, with mixing and mastering by Guy Fixsen, listening to ‘Headlong’ is like being tossed into a crazy sonic swirl, flinging you from pillar to post, while dragging you down into a vast mire of confusion. The pulsating drums, brash bass, and scorching guitars (courtesy of Mark Wallbridge) rush along; however, it is the shimmering synths that seem to add a sparkle to an all-encompassing rip of darkness.
While the melody is intriguing and can win you over with its arrangement, Rettig’s voice instils a sense of humanity into ‘Headlong’. Whilst confident and powerful, there is vulnerability and fragility in the rich and delicate vocals. Interestingly, while you might feel a sense of apprehension in the track keeping you on your toes, that burst of fragility offers a friendly hand to navigate the theme of empowering resilience and strength in difficult realities. Rettig explains:
“The song is about escape from an absolutely chaotic black hole, about a realisation and awareness you need to extricate yourself from a situation, and take back control.”
In addition to the single, Where We Sleep released an official music video for ‘Headlong’. You can view the video below and/or on her YouTube channel. Please note that this video uses lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is strongly recommended.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Find out more about Where We Sleep on her Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was sent to us by 3-6-9 Music PR.
Listen to more alternative rock on The Other Side Reviews Alternative Rock playlist:
