Setting the vibe with a pulsing frequency, a high synth and an emotive riser, before we are enveloped by epic drums and hypnotizing vocals, William Denton Wilde opens his latest release, Paradise Lost On Leith with the visual lyrics, “I see sunshine on Leith, waves break on a concrete beach…”
We already love how the picture the artist is painting is in line with the artwork for the single, and if you didn’t already know, Leith is a port area in the north of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded at the mouth of the Water of Leith. It was recently ranked as one of the top five neighbourhoods to live in the world. How iconic!
The new wave 80s synth meets post-punk track is an ode to the area, and speaking on the themes of the song, William Denton Wilde says, “Paradise Lost on Leith is influenced by the Proclaimers song Sunshine on Leith. Paradise Lost on Leith is a snapshot of a day in the working life of WDW. We drive our big green machine north into Scotland full of optimism and as Edinburgh and Leith come into view they are nearly always bathed in sunshine.”
“Unfortunately this sunny disposition doesn’t last and we head south again with storm clouds gathering over Leith.”
The intention of the track is “to evoke the dirtier, unexamined lay-bys of modern Britain”, and that is exactly what we get with the poetic lyricism and brutal yet polished soundscape.
Speaking on his inspirations, William Denton Wilde says he “writes and perform songs about failed love, loss and the bleak reality of the past, present and future” and is “influenced by new wave, goth and 60s girl groups”.
We have been immersing ourselves in William Denton Wilde‘s wider discography including Jesus Got A Gun and Let’s Go For A Drive. Paradise Lost on Leith is also featured on our New Music Spotlight playlist!