It’s no secret that we at Indie Top 39 are gigantic fans of Santa Cruz-based artist Ryan Settles and his synth-filled musical project Far West. Last month, the highly talented musician dropped his latest single called ‘Someday’, and the tune carries on in the traditional summery, dreamy, and distinctive Far West style. Working alongside engineer and producer Ben Etter (Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, Washed Out), ‘Someday’ does however have a bit of a grittier and edgier sound than Far West’s previous releases. To me, it’s a beautiful thing to hear, as it showcases an artist who’s happy to mix it up a little and who’s, most importantly, unafraid to do so.
An artist who draws on inspiration from the likes of Day Wave, M83, and The 1975, it’s been a real treat watching Settles grow and mature his sound with each new release. When we interviewed him last year, Settles said the plan was “to release another EP next year as well”. We’re patiently waiting…
Another summery and dreamy little gem from Far West! We can’t get enough of ‘Someday’!
INDIE TOP 39
What does the song mean to you?
‘Someday’ is about looking inward, seeing things that weigh you down or put you on the wrong path, and learning to let those go. I think all of us have things we want to let go of for the better or say but can’t, and this song is about finally being able to do that.
Tell us about your creative process and how the song came to be.
For the last few releases, including this one, I’ve worked with an engineer/producer named Ben Etter, who has worked with artists like Washed Out, Hazel English, and Cut Copy. Once again, he brought the song to a level I didn’t think it could go. It started out far more laid back and acoustic and he helped bring out more energy in it.
Which Netflix series or movie would you like your music to be featured in?
I think a lot of my music fits well with any coming-of-age movie/show. Stranger Things would be epic.
What do you want to achieve in the next 12 months with your music?
I’m excited to finally be building out a band and start doing live shows. Working on live has been fun because I get to totally re-invent what some of the songs are to fit the live setting.
Make sure to connect with Far West on Instagram » Facebook
Now you can listen to all the 39 songs in one place, right here on Spotify!
