Devin Farney released his new album, ‘Sane Old Self’, which is sharp and witty, packed with warm humor, making it a beautiful musical journey. The album holds 9 songs—each song playful and unique in its own way, with thoughtful and self-reflecting lyrics .
Based in California, Devin Farney is a composer, pianist, singer-songwriter, and producer. With elements of indie pop, jazz, and rock, his music style is experimental and has a strong sense of theatre. Sometimes playful, sometimes quirky, and sometimes deeply emotionally resonant, Farney is capable of offering a stunningly dynamic range for his listeners. His lyrics hold humor, irony, and bits of absurdism. One moment he makes you feel deep existential dread, and the other moment he makes you feel silly in love—Sane Old Self captures this rollercoaster of a listening experience with perfection.
The album starts out with the song ‘Course Of History’, which deals with the concept of time and how we try to control the narratives of our lives, which sometimes is futile. The piano arrangement is crisp and clear. As soon as you start feeling that you can predict how the song is going to turn out, you are surprised by the twists and turns that the arrangement holds, mirroring how the history and times of our lives are unpredictable. The melody is playful, and the lyrics are nuanced; the emotion that the song holds sneaks up on you when you are least expecting it.
‘Partner In Crime’ feels infectious and sly, packing a deep emotion of longing for a chaotic bond between two people who want to get through life together. Driven by an upbeat piano and punchy drums, the song has a retro feel to it. It sounds like a song waiting to be sung along with someone with a smile on our faces. We all need someone who would take on life’s strange adventures with us; the song captures that longing perfectly.
‘Great Big Universe’ is filled with heart and an underlying melancholy of loneliness felt from our tiny place in the vastness of what we call the universe. Despite feeling small in front of something so enormous, the song engulfs you with its charming and witty vibe, and the beats actually make you feel happy.
The last track in the album ‘Vacuum Decay’ lyrically talks about the anxiety of mortality and our need to find meaning in this indifferent cosmos. The song is a beautiful display of Farney’s piano work. He takes a complex feeling that we all have felt at some point in our lives and places it on this stunning instrumentation, amplifying the song’s emotions and ending the album on a note that only makes the listeners want more.
The album as a whole feels nostalgic and cheerful. It captures the essence of what truly matters in life—hope in the small and mundane moments. You can listen to the album on popular music platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. You can also explore more about Devin Farney’s music on his official website, devinfarneymusic.com
Listen to the album here:
