Qulture Magazine

Words: Clíona McCann

Artwork: @ptitficus

Acclaimed Glasgow 5-piece pedalo offers an exciting new perspective on the power ballad, with ‘Picture It Backwards’. Praised by the likes of BBC Introducing Scotland and consistently playing sold-out gigs across the country, it seems only the sky is the limit for pedalo.

The first single from their upcoming summer EP Delicate Thing, ‘Picture It Backwards’ offers a change in pace for the band, injecting a 90s edge into their usual dreampop sound. Delicate piano arpeggios and commanding guitar chords blend and combine to produce a huge dynamic range. The drums are bombastic, packing a punch, and adding further emotional depth to the track. Between a reflective softness and soaring intensity, pedalo perfectly strikes the balance in ‘Picture It Backwards’.

Lead singer Charlotte Stuart’s resonant voice is like honey; sweet yet rich, it effortlessly pierces through the surrounding layers of instrumentation. The lyrics focus on themes of insecurity and imposter syndrome, conjuring familiar images of a struggling creative, experiencing a mental block.

‘You’re so close to a breakthrough… You were meant to be worth much more than this’

Heartfelt and soul-baring, ‘Picture It Backwards’ captures a struggle which is familiar to most but is not often put into words so vividly. Across the song, emotions gradually build and swell until the bridge and final chorus. The hypnotic instrumentation spirals and reverberates around Stuart’s voice as the song crescendos.

Powerful and raw, ‘Picture It Backwards’ is a showstopper which begs to be experienced live.