Nobody Lives Here

Description

SYML is the solo project of artist Brian Fennell. "Simple" in Welsh, he creates music that appeals to the instincts that drive us toward places of refuge, whether that be a location or a person. Born and raised in Seattle, Fennell studied piano and became a self-taught producer, programmer, and guitarist. Fennell describes his album Nobody Lives Here: "We change, the world changes, and there is so much unknown. About a year ago, I started writing songs that represent the change happening right in front of me, a collection that has emerged to become SYML's third album. Many of these songs talk about aging and the intimate, sometimes frightening passage of time. Some discuss how aging revolves around waiting for things to happen, and when they don’t occur, or feel different from what was expected, we can be left with surprise and sadness. In fact, it reminds me of watching my 2-year-old! We learn to live with disappointment. I recorded some of these songs with children and dogs making noise in the background, and others in silent studios with musicians I have listened to and admired for many years. These songs are meant to be garments to wear as needed (or as I need). Some are bright and bold, while others are soft, but they were all made with a sense of comfort in mind, even when things feel dark. My wife jokes that when our friends hear some of these songs, they might think we’re not "well." Fortunately, immersing myself in a sad song is always a good place to feel happy. There’s this generally unspoken feeling that musicians don’t listen to their own music. That’s not true for me. I love living with my songs because their meaning changes along with me. There is as much fear and beauty in the big questions as there is wonder and possibility in the simple, everyday crap we experience.