I'm kind of obsessed with The Faim

Okay hear me out -- it's kind of bad, but I'm actually totally here for it. I've casually listened to The Faim for over a year, I guess, only really knowing a few songs, learning roughly a new one a month starting last November. Recently, though, I just haven't been able to turn them off. Legitimately, though, I sat down to start writing a completely different post -- one that might see life later this week -- but I just haven't been able to focus. I can't bring myself to turn their music off, or to focus on writing anything that's not about them. I'd say it's almost suffocating, but it's actually refreshing.

It's been a really long time since I have fallen so hard for a band so fast and all consuming. That used to be the way that I discovered music, back when I was in high school, even super early in college. I'd dive right off the deep end with new bands, becoming all-consumed by their music. It was amazing, and honestly, established some deep roots in bands that mean the world to me.

But when I got busy in college, dealing with school work or friend problems or mental health problems or whatever it seemed to be that day, I just didn't have the time to fully dive into a band like that. I'd often choose to stick to the songs and artists I already knew because I just wanted to find peace in my music, rather than devoting the time to really getting into something new. So instead, my new music process became a slow one. I'd listen to a couple songs by a new band, here or there, and maybe I'd come back to it, maybe I wouldn't. I would take baby steps into the pool that's a band's discography. Or, if it was a well-established band, I'd be put off by their large repertoire and just wouldn't bother learning anything more. As a music lover, and as someone who likes to know everyone in a band and every one of their songs, that was a hard process to wrap my head around. But it was one I got used to and settled for because I just didn't have the time.

I stumbled across The Faim by chance back in March of last year. I honestly completely forgot about that, but noticed it when I was looking at my playlist and was reminded. Roughly this time last year, I heard "Buying Time," "Tongue Tied" and "My Heart Needs to Breathe" and was just instantly intrigued. But me being me, that was pretty much the end of it for a while. When those songs came on shuffle, I thoroughly enjoyed every second of the songs. But I never sought out more.

Cut to November, 2021. "Make Believe" was recommended to me by Spotify and I fell instantly in love. That song spoke to me and I played it so frequently for weeks after hearing it. But I just never found the time to listen to anything else by them, really. I heard "A Million Stars" later that week and loved every second of it. We were two for two, and for whatever reason, I just still couldn't find the time. December comes along, and I fall in love with "Summer Is a Curse." Then in January, Spotify recommended their new single, "Ease My Mind." I loved it, genuinely loved it. Amazing song. It made me thoroughly keep The Faim on my radar. I followed them on Spotify, waited for their next release.

It came at the beginning of February -- or at least that's when I listened to it, I believe it was released end of January. Called "The Hills," this became my new obsession for, well, a lot of February and even a bit of March. After that song, I started a little digging, and began to fall in love with "Saints of the Sinners" and "Humans." But, again, that was that.

Until this past Friday. The Faim released "ERA" and I've pretty much been a goner ever since.

Fuck, okay, quick intermission -- "Make Believe" just came on and with my current headspace, I might cry, so one second. For me at least. For you, this is all nonsense, and it'll continue in the next sentence anyways.

So "ERA" is a song that was released in absolutely perfect timing. It was like the stars aligned. Seriously. It's about celebrating the end of an era and looking forward to what's next. It's the idea that while one chapter of life may be ending, it means another is just beginning.

And oh boy, does that hit home right now. Graduation is less than a month away. That's kind of a horrifying thought, honestly. But when I listen to this song, I genuinely feel like everything's going to be okay. I may not know what's next for me, but that's all right. I'll figure it out. This song makes me actually want to figure it out. And that's something that I kind of lost amidst all the burnout I've been feeling.

It's been a really long time since I found a song I wanna scream the words to on the top of a hill or parking garage or mountain or whatever the hell is tall. I want to dance to it, I wanna cry to it, I want to hug my best friend when I hear it. It seriously hits like every emotion in me. And I love it. I love it so much. It's the kind of feeling I really don't want to let go of. I don't even know how to describe it. I'm at a loss for words when it comes to describing how "ERA" makes me feel, which is odd, because I swear I haven't really shut up since I started college and the extravert in me came out in full force. So me being speechless is perhaps the highest compliment I can give something these days.

In the rare moments I'm not just hitting repeat on "ERA" over and over again this weekend, I've been listening to The Faim's entire discography. My only regret is not doing it sooner. Genuinely. Their debut (and, as of right now, only) album, State of Mind, released in September 2019 and is actually fantastic. From beginning to end, it's up there in the best albums I've heard in a while. Besides the songs I've mentioned so far in this post, I'd easily recommend "Infamous" and "Amelie." But if you click on any song on that record, it's going to be a good one. Their EP, Summer Is a Curse, is also genuinely incredible, in case you were wondering.

I have absolutely nothing negative to say about The Faim. But I also don't think I've had enough time with their music to truly formulate why I think it's so amazing. It's just something you're either going to just have to trust me on, or find out for yourself.

They're a band from Perth, Australia with only one album, one EP and a handful of singles under their belts, but I can safely say that there's not a bad song in their discography. Every single song they've put out is absolutely fantastic, each in their own ways. They deserve multitudes of success. Seriously, a phenomenal band.

And wow, lead singer Josh Raven's voice, let me just tell you. It is so unbelievably soothing. The chorus of "A Million Stars" comes to mind instantly as an example. The way he sings those lines is just incredibly comforting to me. "ERA" comes to mind, also, along with "Make Believe." The vocals are a huge reason, along with the lyrical content, for why I fell in love with the tracks. There's never a moment in any of their songs where I'm like 'huh this is a little odd' when it comes to his vocals. With the range their music can it, it's impressive, really. I have nothing but only incredibly positive things to say about the vocals on every track of theirs. Only the highest of praise.

If I could without seeming absolutely insane, I'd recommend The Faim to every single person I meet. There's something for everyone in their discography, that I'm sure of. But since I think everyone would hate me if I started randomly suggesting bands unsolicited, I'll settle for this little rant instead. An almost-live look into how I fall in love with a band, I guess.

Regardless, though, this is a band I cannot wait to see what they do next. And I can safely say that I'll be listening to their music every step of the way.

Now, if you need me, I'll probably be listening to "ERA" on repeat until graduation. And I'll never get sick of it. I don't think I could.