Today, Orange County-bred Vicky Farewell announces Sweet Company, her debut album, out April 8th on Mac’s Record Label, and presents a visualizer for its lead single, “Are We OK?” Possessing a rare combination of elite musicianship and singular vocal performance, Farewell produced, arranged, and engineered Sweet Company herself. Her particular knack for pocket-driven ear worms match the album’s melancholy tone with whimsical notions and unbridled joy.
Farewell’s emergence as a solo act is the latest chapter in an already impressive career. A classically-trained pianist, songwriter, and producer, Farewell began to flourish at the epicenter of the funk-addled and deeply experimental Angeleno musical ecosystem alongside The Free Nationals in the studios of Shafiq Husayn (of Sa-Ra Creative Partners) before graduating to the legendary hip-hop producer Dr. Dre. Boasting writing credits on Anderson .Paak’s acclaimed GRAMMY-nominated album Malibu (Best Urban Contemporary Album) and the GRAMMY-winning album Ventura (Best R&B Album); it was in the company of these giants that Farewell found her sound, and—at their urging—she ultimately found her own voice.
Today’s “Are We OK?” was born at the height of pandemic uncertainty, conveying the palpable vulnerability of that fraught period. “‘Are We OK?’ was the first song I ever wrote and produced to completion on my own,” says Farewell, “Honestly, I never considered myself much of a singer until I made this song. It really paved a way for the rest of the record.”
Watch Visualizer for Lead Single, “Are We OK?”
Grounded by the pandemic, Farewell channeled her artistic energy into a vehicle she could operate from the comforts of her own home. The ability to work with little to no input from the outside world is a hallmark of the scene that made her, and this approach affords Farewell the freedom to perfect her output. Though the first track came from her decision to write tunes for fun, Farewell was encouraged to record a full-length record by the more established artists in her orbit who were digesting these early demos. Upon finishing Sweet Company, Farewell played the album for Mac Demarco and was offered a deal on the spot: “I’ve known Vicky for several years now, she’s a good friend and a ripping musician. I’m super excited to be working on this release with her. Vicky shared a couple of the songs with me as she was making them a while ago, and it’s been cool to watch the rest of her process in putting it all together. I love all these tunes, I’m happy Vicky’s allowed us to help out with them, and I’m really excited for everybody else out there to have a rip on them.”
Sweet Company cements Farewell as a true record producer, complete with the confidence to let the music do the talking. For Farewell, it’s “all about the music and the music is fucking good.” Sweet Company is a bold statement of artistic capacity delivered in feather-light refrains, bursting phasers, and robust arpeggios that conjure pastels and the tender nostalgia of a childhood crush. Farewell finds herself fully realized in the span of eight tracks painstakingly designed to shatter industry norms.
Sweet Company Tracklist 1. Prelude 2. Sweet Company 3. Kakashi (All of the Time) 4. Believe Me 5. Are We OK? 6. H.W. 7. Forever 8. Get Me
Keep your mind open.
[I’ll feel okay if you subscribe.]
[Thanks to Jim at Pitch Perfect PR.]
