Watch: I’m Not Alone (I’m Lonely) by Courtney Farren

SF-born, LA-based musician and BlackPlastic regular, Courtney Farren is back again. Her new single, I’m Not Alone (I’m Lonely) follows on from previous releases that include the Rabbit King EP, and its preceding singe, White Rabbit. This new song comes as the lead single from Farren’s debut album, expected to launch in Q2 of 2024.

In contrast to those releases, I’m Not Alone (I’m Lonely) has both a greater sense of polish, the crunchy drums and lo-fi sound of White Rabbit entirely absent. In their place we have a style that evokes long California road trips, with synth melodies, strummed guitars and the occasional drum roll creating a widescreen aesthetic. The way Farren lands this all with such finesse just underlines the versatility of a truly impressive artist.

Beyond the song’s instrumentation and production, what strikes me with I’m Not Alone (I’m Lonely) is just how emotionally confident it is. Courtney steps her way through a verse that sees her paint a picture of growing alienation, as she gradually lays out frustration, and a building sense of disconnection. By the time she hits the chorus, where Farren’s vocal begins to take on a Stevie Nicks-like quality, floating in the wind, she lands the song’s title with such conviction that we are already right there with her: feeling her loneliness and yearning for change, and realisation that it’s on her to make that happen.

Watch: Rabbit King EP — Courtney Farren

Building on from her single White Rabbit, which I covered back in December, Bay Area musician Courtney Farren is back with a new EP, Rabbit King.

Featuring three tracks in addition to White Rabbit, Farren’s new EP demonstrates surprisingly diverse soundscapes. The lo-fi, hi energy clash of that prior single is a distinctive moment within a release that is undeniably broader in its ambitions.

EP opener King marries soft keys, glassy vocals and reverb to create something introspective, authentic yet polished. Care is a woozy, reflective and softly played electronic piece laced with a sense of dread — foreboding introduced via uneasy bass tones and a nervous vocal. In contrast to everything else here, EP closer Happy is brittle and bruised, a heartfelt and vulnerable piece about the challenge in finding contentment.

What stays with me, having spent time with Rabbit King, is how varied Farren’s talent is. This is an EP with as much depth as it has accessibility — the kind of thing you can instantly appreciate, yet has the complexity to reward repeated listens.

Check out Happy below. The full EP is currently on YouTube.

Watch: White Rabbit — Courtney Farren

Awash with reverb and a heavy kick drum, Courtney Farren’s White Rabbit punches its way into your brain with plenty of sparkle but limited subtlety. Things can be deceptive, though, because whilst the song’s fuzzy guitars and clipped, lo-fi drums sound like they would be at home in a late 90s teen movie, Farren’s vocal is juxtaposed to great effect.

All the distorted bass and grimy instrumentation creates the perfect backing for Courtney’s Angelique delivery. White Rabbit’s chorus centred around a yearning delivery of the line, “You had me at hello” that is both as nostalgic a line as the sound, and utterly irresistible in performance.

Hailing from the Bay Area, Farren has spent much of her life on the road, playing shows as she travelled locations that include New York, Paris, Dublin and, most recent, Los Angeles. This latest base comes following a period spend in a remote village in Croatia, where she focused on refining her production and songwriting skills. She is now working on a project, set for release in 2022/2023, with production duties shared between Brad Hale, Ethan Schneiderman, and herself.

Designed as to be a fun, energising record, Courtney describes the inspiration behind White Rabbit:

“As an unnatural blonde, I created this song to play with people's expectations of me. It's pop, it's fun, and it's an exploration of a new relationship after getting out of a longterm relationship.”