Vistas frontman delves into the story behind debut album

Songwriters have long-been fascinated by the change we all experience as we stumble and wade through the mystifying stages of maturity. The relatively care-free existence of youth gives way to the crushing responsibilities of adulthood; all wonderment and optimism tends to fade as a swelling of cynicism and fatigue take to the fore.

The transition between the two can be a fertile hunting ground for artists with an ability to take notice. The twilight of youth, the loss of childhood relationships and the fear of the unknown: It can be enough to write an entire album over.

Enter Vistas. Less than two weeks ago, the three-piece unveiled their debut album Everything Changes in the End to a wave of acclaim. The Edinburgh outfit even managed to snag a number one by topping the UK's Official Independent Album charts.

The record is a chronology which delves into that complex teenager-to-adult shift but retains a sense of community, of a shared experience, and a yearning to be connected. Prentice Robertson, the band's frontman, notes that the work is authentic as it borne from their own experiences.

He tells The Weekender: "The common theme on the album, which is sort of indicated in the title, is the final days of youth and all those teenage experiences before moving into adulthood: Things change, things don't change, some people move on, while others move away.

"It is about that transitioning period where life really kicks in. When you are in your early adult life, there is no handbook on what that is going to be like. There are a lot of responsibilities and things that will happen to you – it also looks at those things that might happen that will be scary, but also the realisation that it is OK to be worried about those things because everyone does.

"It's about looking back, nostalgically, on your teenage years and looking forward to the future and all the things that could happen. That's really what we wanted to say with the album and that's probably due to the fact we were writing it over that period of our lives, while we were all going through those changes."

He adds: "Another part of it is being there for your friends and all the significant people in your lives – we just wanted that togetherness to be prominent, and hopefully that comes through."

That sense of coming together is a welcome sentiment at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has isolated so many from loved ones. It is a weight felt by the band themselves, but they were driven by a commitment, or even a sense of duty, to provide even just a little respite for those struggling through the crisis.

Vistas unveiled their debut album Everything Changes in the End last month

Not just an outlet for frustration or a healthy distraction, Robertson hopes the release of the album – coming on the same weekend that the first reductions in lockdown measures – will mean the material could be forever associated with a kind of forward-thinking positivity.

"Our band has always been incredibly fan-orientated," he says. "Everything we do, musically, is for our fans. The fact the album had given them something to look forward to, and now something to enjoy, is amazing. That's really what we do it for.

"When we were young, it was just one of the best things when one of our favourite bands put out new music. It's nice that we are, sort of, in that position now where we can be someone's favourite band and put out music that might lift their mood.

"Music is just a different art form to anything like comedy, films or TV because you can listen to an album so many times and, depending on what stage you are in your life or what is going on around you at that particular moment, the album can mean so many different things.

"That's why we love music so much and why we are so happy with the way the record has turned out. Although it is just an indie record, it does have different sides that you can look in any way you really want to."

The singer adds: "I think that fans of our band will look back and remember the day we released our album, thinking: 'It was just as lockdown was beginning to ease; it was an absolutely roasting day, and I was out in my garden, having a BBQ and listening to the songs'.

"We hoped that releasing this album during this time might be, for some, a bit of a silver lining to the cloud that's hanging over us all at the moment. With everything going on the moment, I think people are hugely receptive and hugely grateful for any music or any art form that is going out."

"Everything we do, musically, is for our fans. The fact the album had given them something to look forward to, and now something to enjoy, is amazing. That's really what we do it for."

Robertson was amazed to see so many people being united through their love of Vistas over the last few months. It is clear that music has been a crutch for millions across the world as a means of coping with the uncertainty of the outbreak, and the singer has seen for himself just how powerful and therapeutic music can be.

He explains: "Since we have been in lockdown, I think there has been a greater community spirit among our fans – they have kind of banded together in a lot of ways and, hopefully, some friendships have been formed as a result of our music.

"That would be a really amazing thing and I don't think that would have necessarily happened if we had just been regularly gigging, because we wouldn't have been putting out the content that we have been putting out. So, that is, at least, another nice thing that has come from what we have all gone through.

"We held a listening party for the album on Zoom," he adds. "We thought only a few people would come in but there were more than 250 folk in.

"And because everyone had their cameras facing them, we could see them all singing along to the songs and dancing to the songs. It felt weirdly like a gig and when we ended the call we had that same kind of adrenaline hit that you get after a show – it felt like we had actually performed.

"It was really strange. Considering everything, I think we released the album in the best possible way we could have, and I think it has gone down as well as it could have done with our fans.

"It's hard to say, but maybe the release would not have been as special if it was released while we were on the road touring. But I am really glad to experience it in the way that we did."

Vistas were due to be travelling between gigs down south as their album was released, but that tour had to be postponed. They have dates set for November this year, kicking off with what will be a massive gig at The Barrowlands in Glasgow on November 26.

There is, of course, a lingering uncertainty as to whether live music on that scale will be back by then, but the band remain hopeful.

Vistas are due to play The Barrowlands in November

Robertson adds: "We had a few festival dates booked, but most events are keeping the same bills so we are, at least, going to be playing next year.

"It's easy to be fully gutted with everything that has happened, with live music being stopped, but everyone on the circuit is in the same position. It's not as though anyone is getting a head start or anyone is being cut a bad deal.

"When live music is able to start back – in whatever capacity that may be in – fans of music will be so excited for it. I hope some attitudes will really shift and more people will realise that we actually do need live music and live performance because it is still one of the best things you can go to see and to be a part of.

"I would only want to go back and play shows in the right way. It's not something we would want to do if there was a risk to our fans. We remain hopeful about the November gigs – but we can only wait and see for now."

Some tracks from Everything Changes, in the End, were either previously released and well-known to the Vistas faithful or were teased during the previous round of live dates last year. But there is a fair chunk of the record that has still be performed, with Robertson eager to grasp that opportunity.

He continues: "We have played Retrospect and Tigerblood live many times and we tried out Sentimental just that one time – no one knew it at the time, in fact, the three of us didn't really know it. I don't even think we practiced it before we played it; we just thought we would give it a shot.

"I know we played 15 Years live a few times on the last tour. There were a few people coming to multiple shows on that tour and by show three they seemed to know the words to it. It hadn't been released or anything so that was really cool – even though the song isn't even out, they were really getting into it.

"But the majority of the record is still to be showcased live and I very much looking forward to the first opportunity to do that, hopefully with the tour coming up in November.

"We are supposed to start that tour in Glasgow, so it is quite surreal to think that the very next gig we will play will be at The Barrowlands, considering, by then, we won't have played live in about a year. It's a pretty daunting feeling, but if we are able to, I'm sure we'll be able to put on a great show for that one."

The lack of touring has had its own silver lining for the Vistas singer as it has lit the fires of creativity. As a result, it is very likely that the band could find themselves in the studio before the end of the year, as they get started on what will be a hotly-anticipated follow-up record.

"Since we have been in lockdown, I think there has been a greater community spirit among our fans – they have kind of banded together in a lot of ways and, hopefully, some friendships have been formed as a result of our music."

The singer looks back: "We recorded the [first] album in August-September last year and the plan was always to release it on May 29. That was always the agreement; to bring it out just before festival season.

"Obviously, in March when everything sort of changed in the world, we had discussions about whether or not to go ahead with the release, but ultimately we decided it was important that we got the music out there.

"And as we had been sitting on it for so long, putting out the album now would act as a marker for that period of Vistas. That will allow us, once the world goes back to normal, to kick into the next stage of Vistas, which will be our second album."

He goes on: "I'm spending as much time as I can writing – it's another thing that goes along with not touring; I've been given a chance to devote a solid period of concentrated time to working on new material. It means that when the world does go back to normal, the three of us and a producer can get into a studio and really hit the ground running with album two.

"So, at least, there is that positive: We should have a lot of music ready to record when we do back in there. We'll have a good idea of what we want to do with the next album, and we can then start planning for it coming out, whenever that may be."

Everything Changes in the End is available now.