Fake Dad Seek Out Growth and Change in 'Yerba Mala'
LA-based bedroom synth-pop meets indie rock duo Fake Dad, comprised of Andrea de Varona and Josh Ford, continue to melt their unique artistic visions in their latest EP, Yerba Mala. An intoxicating and colorful collection of songs filled with quirky synths, catchy pop-laden hooks, and sun-soaked layered guitars, the two take a deep dive into interpersonal relationship dynamics in an ever-changing world. In particular, the project explores frontperson Andrea de Varona's nuanced relationship with her first-generation Latinx identity.
According to de Varona, 'Yerba Mala' is a Spanish phrase that her mother would use in gardening to describe the weeds and vines that needed to be removed so that new flowers could grow every season. "From friends to family to hometowns, these songs explore what it's like to grow with (or apart from) other people in search of self-betterment," shares de Varona. "Sometimes, relationships change. Sometimes they get stronger, and sometimes they have to be left behind in order for you to heal and grow into the version of you that was always there, waiting to bloom." She adds, "Having bilingual lyrics that are never fully in Spanish was very intentional because we're trying to capture the identity and existing duality of being a Hispanic person in America who may have grown up speaking primarily one language at home but largely another in the outside world."
The record opens with the bilingual leading track "So Dramatic!" With an energetic, vibrant melody and playful multi-layered vocals, Andrea sings, "I'm so dramatic, actin' like I'm drowning on the Titanic," lightheartedly teasing melodrama and over-the-top theatrics. The song's eccentric mix of colliding rhythms and beats creates a unique musical moment that straps listeners in and readies them for the journey that is to come.
The following two tracks, "Souvenir Store" and "FASHION GIRL," arguably demonstrate the band's ability to create lush, genre-blending music that bravely tackles and critiques heavy topics like mental health and the dark sides of the fashion and entertainment industry. While the former of the two uses sweeping avant-garde pop filled with fresh harmonies to chronicle the inner struggles of fear and anxiety and the effort of always trying to cope, the latter crafts a hyper pop meets electronic rock track filled with a bass-heavy driving beat and danceable rhythms to discuss the toxic hand big industries have on society, including but not limited to inspiring eating disorder and creating body dysmorphia.
The record then switches gears, delivering to listeners the slow-burning, moody, left-of-center "I Like the Beach." Filled with soul-baring vocals, intense crescendos of percussion, and haunting harmonics, De Varona sings all about desire and connection with a passionate and emotional delivery, creating a web of tension that is as cathartic as it is intriguing. This serves as a stellar setup for the record's final track, "Momento." The bilingual ballad draws the listener in with its washed-out riff, siren-like backup vocals, and shimmering iridescent sonics that feel warm and inviting. Endearing lyrics paint a rich scene of an intimate time and place, sharing an experience of being fully immersed in a precious moment.
Fake Dad always aims to create music that is an invaluable source of comfort for their listeners, and Yerba Mala is a prime example. While being open with their struggles with anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia in their craft, their transparency provides a sonic experience that lets others know they are not alone.
Listen to Yerba Mala below:
