They say you can’t outrun your problems—that no matter how far you travel, you carry them with you like a backpack, heavy and ever-present. And while I believe that a change of scenery can often bring out a different version of ourselves, there’s truth in the idea that if we don’t change our patterns, the same stories will keep unfolding, just with different backdrops. The places may shift, but the endings stay the same.
This realization—that we are both the architects of our struggles and the ones tasked with dismantling them—is one of life’s most profound challenges. It requires us to look inward, to reflect honestly on the ways we get in our own way, and to find the courage to break free from cycles that no longer serve us. It’s not an easy task, but it’s a necessary one if we want to move toward something better, something lighter.
This subtle balance between repetition and transformation forms the heart of Arliston’s new single, ‘Disappointment Machine’. The track begins with a melancholic beauty, pulling listeners into a reflective space, before transitioning into a soft, uplifting current of hope.
Arliston, the London-based duo of Jack Ratcliffe and George Hasbury, are known for their introspective songwriting and with today’s premiere, they continue to expand on their journey of emotional exploration. Speaking about the song, the band shares: “This song gets into the repeated pattern of behaviour which leads mechanically and invariably to disappointment. It also attempts to put into context the fact that it’s a ‘tiny problem’ and does not matter, but despite the attempts to minimise it, the feelings remain the same.”
“Staying stuck in the same cycles doesn’t work—it won’t ever stop you from feeling the way you’re feeling.”
Accompanying the single is a heartfelt music video directed by the Screenology graduates director Meriwether Freya Lewis and producer Milly Ruston. Filmed in and around Bristol, the video tells the story of a monk, portrayed by Cailum Carragher, who ventures out of the solitude of his monastery in search of something more. However, the connection he seeks proves elusive, a visual echo of the song’s theme: the intense pursuit of something or someone that may never fully meet our expectations. Inspired by the Amish tradition of Rumspringa, the narrative dances between the allure of worldly exploration and the quiet pull of spiritual fulfillment.
Collaborating with Lewis and her team allowed Arliston to focus deeply on the storytelling and the result is a video that blends humor and sincerity, mirroring the song’s introspective tone.
With ‘Disappointment Machine’, Arliston invites listeners to confront their own patterns and find meaning in the search itself – a reminder that growth often comes not from the destination, but from the path we take to get there. And as the year edges closer to its end, this feels like a gentle nudge—a reminder to find that small spark of courage to step just a little outside of the familiar.
photography by Carina Hasbury
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