There are debuts that hint at promise, and then there are debuts that arrive fully formed, bold, and unapologetically inventive. Southern Fried, the new EP from York-based artist Messy Eater (aka Pete Bott), falls firmly into the latter camp. Out now via Nutritious Sounds, it’s a five-track ride that takes the dusty crackle of old southern blues and country records, tosses them into a blender with 90s boom bap, and seasons the mix with tongue-in-cheek lyricism and a distinctly modern edge.
From the very start, “Slowcoach” sets the tone: a swaggering beat and a chopped-up guitar riff that unfurls into a chorus built for communal singalongs. It’s a slacker anthem turned inside out, urging us to slow down in a world that won’t stop rushing. The follow-up, “On The Right Track,” brings a smoother sway, soulful in its groove yet breezy enough to sink into on repeat.
Things get stranger, and sharper, on “I Think I’m Headed For A Breakdown.” Equal parts existential confession and tongue-in-cheek parody, the track marries sticky hooks with absurdist sampling, making personal chaos sound almost celebratory.
Next is “Keep On (I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead)” with pure momentum, a brass-driven burst of restless energy with its “time is money” refrain hammering home the grind. Closer “All Out Of Time” winds things down without losing the pulse, mixing harmonica, organ grit, and lyrical playfulness in a way that feels both nostalgic and slyly futuristic.
What makes Southern Fried so compelling is its balance of humor and heart. Bott’s project doesn’t just recycle influences like Beck or The Avalanches, it warps them into something lived-in, quirky, and alive. Each track offers hidden textures and unexpected turns, rewarding close listening while keeping things effortlessly fun.
With BBC Introducing, Apple Music, and tastemakers already backing the project, Messy Eater feels poised to stretch far beyond cult curiosity. Southern Fried is a statement of intent: clever, catchy, and impossible to pigeonhole. Such a feast of sounds that lingers long after the last bite!
