West Lothian’s favourite four-piece are coming out the gate hot for 2026 with their brand new coming of age anthem, Screwball Scramble.
Named after the ’90s game, it’s filled with fun, flavour and all the swag you’d expect from the band. If you haven’t heard of Dictator, you must have been hiding under a rock! They’ve landed support slots with Young Fathers, played some fantastic festival stages, and received regular spins on BBC radio airwaves.
They were one of my favourite shows I had the pleasure of seeing in 2025. Their live performances are packed with energy, banter and cracking tunes. Dictator perfectly illustrate why music should have no boundaries, as they creatively merge hip-hop beats with indie rock sing-along choruses, while weaving in funk and jazz riffs too. That list alone should grab your attention and immediately have you giving them a listen — if only out of curiosity!
Screwball Scramble takes a very different direction from their latest EP, Middle of the Road, but it’s still just as magnificent. Dictator are set to blow the January blues away with this upbeat, feel-good anthem. It’s a reminder that growing old is inevitable, but growing up isn’t, give yourself permission to hit the reset button and go after what you want.
Just be who you want if it frees up your soul
This lyric stood out the most for me, possibly because it’s a new year and we all get reflective, right? But it also lands as Bonnie Scotland Presents approaches its first birthday, which feels like a real achievement. Back in February last year, I wrote, “I haven’t quite come across anything like Dictator”, and honestly, I still feel the same. Their sound is fresh, vibrant and consistently musically interesting.
Screwball Scramble opens with Michael (vocals) and Zach (guitar), screaming indie rock circa 2006, with the vocals and guitar hitting on different beats — playing perfectly into the track’s fun, playful feel. As the song builds, the off-beat guitar resolves itself and settles neatly alongside the drums and bass.
The middle eight offers a dynamic shift, as Michael and Joe (bass) pull things back slightly, allowing for a moment of self-reflection. There’s a lot of passion in the vocals here, and I’d assume this track is particularly personal for the band. It’s one that’s going to resonate with a lot of listeners too.
If this is how Dictator are launching themselves into 2026, I can’t wait to see how the year plays out for them. Check them out now and get them added to your “must see list” for this year.
