We Speak Music
Beldon Haigh at Whistle Binkies: A Night of Dystopian Brilliance
On Sunday, November 10, 2024, Falkirk’s finest export, Beldon Haigh, stormed back into Edinburgh’s Whistle Binkies for a performance that felt less like a gig and more like an audacious theatrical statement.
Marking the band’s final show of the year, the night brought their ambitious Dystopia – The Rock Opera full circle following a triumphant run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The result? A blistering mix of indie rock, satirical storytelling, and raw showmanship. Fake money and moon bonds rained down from the stage in surreal moments that balanced stinging political commentary with theatrical flair.
The vibe was electric before the first note. Crew members roamed the floor, handing out mini flags emblazoned with the now-iconic Dystopian logo—a cheeky touch that turned the audience into a makeshift nation. GoPro cameras dotted the stage, signaling that something special was about to unfold.
Cue Justin Skelton, Beldon Haigh’s enigmatic frontman, who stepped into the spotlight with a magnetic swagger to greet the crowd as “Citizens of Dystopia.” The band’s Orwellian themes were hard to ignore, serving up scathing social commentary on a world teetering on the brink. Skelton led a musical assault that was equal parts biting and brilliant. Backed by Dru Baker (horns and keyboards), Fiona Lynch (backing vocals), and an expanded live lineup—Willie Logan (guitar), Sean Harkins (drums), and Duggy Coulter (bass)—the band dialed up the drama, slipping into their satirical alter egos: Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump, respectively. Because why just play music when you can make a political statement that slaps just as hard? It was a surreal, unpredictable mix of biting satire, raw energy, and blistering sound—the kind of gig that reminds you why live music matters.
The set opened with Dumpster Fire, the explosive lead track from World Got So Dumb, a biting anthem that immediately locked the crowd into the band’s dystopian groove. From there, Beldon Haigh crafted a narrative-driven set that blurred the line between concept album and full-blown stage production. A commanding voice punctuated the transitions, addressing the “Dystopian people” like a darkly comedic overlord weaving the show’s Orwellian threads.
Highlights included Soap Machine, where Skelton’s rockstar theatrics meshed perfectly with Lynch’s ethereal harmonies and Baker’s keyboard brilliance. Sean Harkins’ drumming proved to be the driving force behind the evening, adding both technical precision and unpredictable flair. Midway through, World Got So Dumb delivered the night’s quirkiest moment, as Skelton cheekily referenced whales and plankton before the band launched into solos mimicking marine creatures—an absurdist flourish that landed perfectly with the audience.
For all the biting satire, the heart of the show lay in its communal spirit. Tracks like Hermano, with its Latin-tinged rhythms, and Happiness, a euphoric anthem, became rallying cries for unity. These were not just songs; they were shared moments of catharsis, turning the venue into a collective sanctuary.
Beldon Haigh’s sound is big—too big, perhaps, for Whistle Binkies. The band’s theatricality, ambition, and sheer presence suggest they are destined for much larger stages. Watching them perform Dystopia – The Rock Opera felt like witnessing the genesis of something extraordinary—a bold, unapologetic vision that demands attention.
This wasn’t just another gig; it was a thrilling, surreal mix of rock and theatre that turned sharp political commentary into a wild, unforgettable experience. Beldon Haigh aren’t just playing music—they’re building worlds.
“An absolute tune!”- Melvin Odoom, BBC Radio 2.
TIHANE’s debut album ‘The War on Love’ is a genre-blending journey that flips the classic love song on its head—featuring romance, rage, and resilience through a sound inspired by her Polynesian Croatian roots she calls ‘Indigenous Soul’. Blending vintage soul, hypnotic grooves, and electronic textures with raw storytelling, this album explores the mysteries of life, love and healing.
Co-produced by Segnon Tiewul and TIHANE, ‘The War On Love’ features vintage record samples and rich live instrumentation, bringing together artists and producers from across the globe—including Ghana, India, Bermuda, the UK, and the US—and blending genres from R&B and Neo-Soul to AfroHouse and World Fusion. One moment you’re in a smoky jazz room steeped in golden-era soul; the next, you’re dropped into a futuristic Afro House beat flip.
The first single from the album, ‘Throw It Back,’ has dropped on VEVO with a stunning visual of TIHANE wrapped in a python snake, Polynesian dancing in a lush jungle. The track, which has picked up BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music airplay, fuses exotic melodies with a strong beat and thick low end that feels sensually, spiritually, and wildly alive. Directed by TIHANE with cinematography/camera by Chris Oeurn, color grade by Cris Blyth and assistant camera operation by the song’s co-producer, Segnon Tiewul, the ‘Throw It Back’ video boasts a motley crew of adventurous creators who merge cinema with raw ceremony.
On the single, TIHANE says; “I hadn’t produced a track in years. But one day—mid-heartbreak—I locked myself in a studio and let the pain move through me. No plans. Just pure flow. It was raw. It was sensual. It was powerful. That was the moment I realized just how much of my power I’d been giving away—like so many women do. Performing love. Proving worth. Fighting to be chosen. This song became the sound of me remembering my own pulse. The lyrics came through fast, like they’d been waiting. A feminine force—both fierce and tender—took over. She wasn’t asking. She was commanding me: back into the body, back into pleasure, back into truth. Throw It Back might sound like a dance track—and it is—but it’s also ceremonial. It’s for anyone who’s had to move through ache… and figure out how to dance in that fire.”
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TIHANE currently lives between Los Angeles and London, crafting sonic sanctuaries for those ready to feel again and rise again. The single and album follow the release of her track “Ain’t That A B!tch” last year, which got significant acclaim from Clash Magazine, EARMILK, CULTR, and more.
TIHANE’s powerhouse vocals have drawn comparisons to Amy Winehouse, Sade, Cleo Sol, and Adele—delivering the kind of soul you feel in your bones. From nostalgic melodies to her signature twist of rap-singing and percussion-driven drops, her sound is a dynamic force. She’s performed across four continents—from historic venues like L’Olympia (Paris) and Bush Hall (London) to cultural platforms like TEDx, Stamp The Wax, and BBC Introducing. Festival highlights include SXSW, Soho House NYC, Homecoming (South Africa), Nyege Nyege (Uganda), and Africa Nouveau (Kenya).
TIHANE’s debut album ‘The War on Love’ — an ode to radical tenderness— is both a personal testimony and a universal offering that invites listeners to feel deeply, move freely, and remember who they are.
Catch TIHANE performing at Pizza Express Live in London on July 22, 2025.
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