REVIEW: Eszter Vida’s newest single ‘Roadkill’
Leeds/Sheffield-based alt-indie quintet Eszter Vida have made a name for themselves off the back of a strong trio of early releases, starting with 2024’s dreamy debut single, ‘Paper Rounds’. After straying into ‘80s power-pop on follow-ups ‘Kingdom’ and ‘Is This My Last Night With You?’, how do they fare with the introduction of a more intimate, country-influenced sound on their newest release, ‘Roadkill’?
The tonal shift on ‘Roadkill’ is immediately evident from the indie-folk stylings of the intro, a sparse, insistent drumbeat underpinning a gentle, jangling guitar line and Lola Wainwright’s lilting bass. Production courtesy of collaborator and bandmate Evan Martin wisely avoids the temptation to overpolish. Electrical hums, string noise, and an ebbing, flowing tempo create a warm atmosphere that feels less like a studio recording and more like walking into the band’s practice room during a relaxed evening practice.
It’s a fitting backdrop for the song's confessional tale of questing for self-esteem, described by Vida herself as being “straight from the journal.” Melancholy imagery abounds, with Vida portraying herself as an “empty canvas… [stowed] in your loft”. alongside a repeated plea: “don’t offer me anything, I don’t take kindly to strangers’ gifts”. Lines like “the last thing on my mind right now is how to celebrate” could easily slip into moroseness, but a gift for a wry couplet and a strong sense of self-awareness lend plenty of light to the shade. It’s vulnerable, but it is a vulnerability wielded as a strength rather than a weakness.
Vocally, Americana artists like Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker make for an apt comparison. Vida captures the conversational rawness and gently drifting melodies associated with Lenker or Angel Olsen, while retaining elements of the poppier delivery showcased on the band's prior releases. Together, these influences create a powerful vocal style that sits somewhere between radio-ready gloss and small-venue intimacy. It’s easy to imagine ‘Roadkill’ gracing a festival main stage at twilight or a backroom folk session with equal ease.
As the song crescendos into a shimmering guitar solo and final chorus, it’s hard not to be impressed by the maturity of the songwriting and musicianship from a band so early in their career. ‘Roadkill’ is a confidently executed addition to a genre-spanning discography. You’d be wise to keep an ear out for whatever Eszter Vida does next, in whatever form it takes.
Words: Dave Cuthbertson
