On my stereo this week: ‘In a Good Way’ by Faye Webster.

In the middle of last year, Faye Webster came across my radar via various spotify recommendations. Upon listening to her acclaimed album Atlanta Millionaires Club I was impressed by her intimate balladry and the sense of loneliness that seeped through her lyrics. Moreover, at its centre are themes of heartbreak and sadness, something that permeates through almost every single fibre of Webster’s being. On the subject of songwriting Webster once said,“Everything is way personal. I’ve never been that kind of person who can read a book and then write a song about the book. I have to write about very personal things for me to even want to write.”

Her music too, sometimes as a fusion of folk and R&B, and at other times a wonderful blend of Americana and indie-rock, also hit an accord with me, especially her fondness for pedal steel guitar. Looking back now I kinda feel guilty not giving her an honourable mention for her brilliant album in my year-end top ten list for 2019. If it’s any consolation her song Room Temperature with its sliding guitar still gets a look in every now and then on my stereo.

Interestingly, the twenty something singer songwriter certainly has a knack of bobbing up when we need her most. She’s back again with her first new release for 2020 called In a Good Way. It’s a curious R&B inspired love song which is thick with sentiment, especially with lyrics like “I didn’t know that I was capable of being happy right now/ But you showed me how.” Moreover, while it forsakes her signature pedal steel from her Atlanta Millionaires Club album, she certainly makes up for it with atmospheric keys, strings and soft rock undertones. I also especially love her wispy vocals that ache along with almost every word in this surprisingly enjoyable slow jam. Excuse the pun, but she definitely wants to make me wanna cry, but in a good way. Enjoy!