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.