Callum Beattie made a flying start ahead of the January 23rd release of his new album ‘INDI’ with its lead single ‘Two Pretenders’. With Radio 2 airplay, a Virgin Radio Track of the Week, extensive streaming support and a cinematic short film, it set the standard for the rest of the campaign to follow. Building on that strong opening, Callum now shares the follow-up ‘Birthday’ – released on his actual birthday. Listen HERE.
Like ‘Two Pretenders’ before it, ‘Birthday’ continues Callum’s desire to take a fresh deep dive into making the kind of music that he’s most passionate about. Touching upon psychedelia, indie-pop and classic ‘60s inspired sounds, ‘Birthday’ feels in place both in the past and the present – a touch of late era Beatles here and some echoes of Oasis there, all led by Callum’spersonality. Callum paints a picture of someone lost in the escape of intoxicants when really all they truly need is love.
Callum says, ““Like most of my songs, ‘Birthday’ is really about mental health. I think it’s important to be open about these things, and the song is actually about how no matter what is going on, we can appear to be confident on the outside, but crumbling on the inside.”
‘Birthday’ was written solely by Callum and was produced by Joe Cross (Courteeners, The LaFontaines, Louis Tomlinson).
‘Birthday’ and ‘Two Pretenders’ combine to show that ‘INDI’ will be a leap beyond the poppier leanings of his first two albums, ‘People Like Us’ and ‘Vandals’. Bolstered by the new artistic freedom that comes with approaching his first fully independent project, it’s a collection that steps into territory occupied by The Verve, The War on Drugs, Bruce Springsteenand classic U2 – all with the emotional resonance that comes with Callum sharing his own unfiltered personal truths.
‘INDI’ is available to pre-order HERE, and a special Blood Records zoetrope disc has just been launched. It joins a host of collectible formats including limited edition Coke bottle green vinyl, signed yellow swirl vinyl, hand numbered picture disc vinyl, a deluxe signed CD, and two cassette variants.
It’s now a little over a month until Callum plays the biggest headline show of his career to date when he takes to the stage at the 14,000 capacity OVO Hydro in Glasgow which is close to sold-out. He will start 2026 with an intimate album release tour accompanied by his full band, with all shows hosted by Assai Records. March will then see him embark upon a headline tour of England before he plays another huge headline show at Edinburgh Castle in July. Tickets are available HERE.
His upcoming shows are:
NOVEMBER
22nd – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
JANUARY 2026 – INTIMATE ALBUM RELEASE TOUR
24th – Dunfermline, PJ Molloys (SOLD OUT – EARLY SHOW JUST ADDED)
25th – Aberdeen, The Lemon Tree (LOW TICKETS)
26th – Dundee, Fat Sams (LOW TICKETS)
27th – Glasgow, Oran Mor (SOLD OUT – EARLY SHOW JUST ADDED)
28th – Edinburgh, Liquid Rooms (SOLD OUT – EARLY SHOW JUST ADDED)
MARCH 2026
20th – Manchester, Gorilla
21st – Newcastle, Northumbria University
26th – London, Scala
27th – Bristol, Thekla
28th – Birmingham, O2 Institute 2
JULY 2026
10th – Edinburgh, Castle (JUST ADDED)
