Following ‘Slowcoach’ in April (“a genre-melting joyride” (Unrecorded)) and ‘On The Right Track’ in May (“infectiously grooving… instantly catchy… wonderful” (Plastic Mag)), Messy Eater releases ‘I Think I’m Headed For A Breakdown’, the third single from his forthcoming ‘Southern Fried’ EP.

Like the stressed inner monologues of so many of us, the verse to ‘I Think I’m Headed For A Breakdown’ rushes out in a frantic half-sung half-rapped style: “Gotta hurry, hurry cos there’s simply just no time for me to waste”.  It’s the feeling of modern overwhelm we all know only too well.  This sense of being on the edge of craziness is intensified by the backing; looping latin jazz piano samples, dusty 90s hip hop drum loops and a head-nodding bass groove.  

The barely-contained existential crisis bursts out in the singalong chorus, with Messy Eater’s knack for crafting an indelible hook bringing humour, relief and a certain joy to our shared experience of life in 2025: “I’m headed for a breakdown… / when is my next holiday? / I need a duvet day”.  Taking cues from The Avalanches’ ‘Frontier Psychiatrist’ and the oddball sampling in Beck’s ‘Odelay’, ‘I Think I’m Headed For A Breakdown’ detours into a bridge of self-help guru tape samples and synthwave pads, before returning to the crowd vocal-backed chorus and then slowly grinding to a halt.

Messy Eater is the brand new music and illustration project from Pete Bott, whose previous projects have been supported by NME, The Guardian, Notion and BBC Radio 1.  Only launching at the end of 2024, Messy Eater has already been invited to perform a live session for BBC Introducing and has received support for his debut EP ‘Starters’ from Apple Music, Amazing Radio and numerous press tastemakers.  Drawing comparisons with Gorillaz, Beck, The Flaming Lips and The Avalanches, Messy Eater combines the flavours of tongue-in-cheek lyrical observations on modern life with irresistible hooks and a unique self-produced sound.

“Infectiously catchy and highly original… Messy Eater continues to impress” - Plastic Magazine

“A celebration and an exploration, breaking boundaries, defying expectations” - Music For The Misfits

“Delightfully chaotic and playful…brilliant” - Unrecorded

"Mixtape culture meets genre-bending songwriting... with irresistible hooks" - Lost In The Manor