Andrea de Varona and Josh Ford aka Fake Dad are a Los Angeles-based bedroom synth-pop meets indie rock duo. Formed in 2020, the two met at a college party in the East Village and have been inseparable ever since. Melting their own unique artistic visions to build a shared sonic shorthand, Fake Dad creates an intoxicating and colorful musical fusion complete with quirky synths, catchy pop-laden hooks, and sun-soaked layered guitars. With a signature production sound and distinct vocal warmth, the two write and record expansive musical moments from their apartment. Although Andrea and Josh come from different musical backgrounds, they share a common goal: to create music that understands you.
The duo’s new EP, Yerba Mala, takes a deep dive into interpersonal relationship dynamics in an ever-changing world. In particular, the project explores frontperson Andrea de Varona’s nuanced relationship with a first-gen Latinx identity. Yerba Mala is a Spanish phrase that Andrea’s mother would use in gardening to describe the weeds and vines that needed to be removed so that new flowers could grow every season. “From friends to family to hometowns, these songs explore what it’s like to grow with (or apart from) other people in search of self-betterment. Sometimes relationships change. Sometimes they get stronger, and sometimes they have to be left behind in order for you to heal and grow into the version of you that was always there, waiting to bloom,” confides Andrea. The five-track EP is a genre-bending adventure of sound with elements of rock, pop, synth, and electronic all colliding for an unforgettable listen.
The leading track “So Dramatic!”, is a bilingual English / Spanish song that lightheartedly teases melodrama and over-the-top theatrics. Brimming with an energetic, vibrant melody and playful multi-layered vocals, Andrea sings, “I’m so dramatic, actin’ like I’m drowning on the Titanic.” She further adds, “Having bilingual lyrics that are never fully in Spanish was very intentional because we’re trying to capture the identity and existing duality of being a Hispanic person in America who may have grown up speaking primarily one language at home but largely another in the outside world.”
Then there is “Souvenir Store”, which demonstrates the band’s ability to create lush and sweeping avant-garde pop filled with fresh harmonies. Chronicling inner struggles of fear and anxiety and the effort of always trying to cope, the single is a relatable narrative. With “Fashion Girl”, Fake Dad crafts a hyper pop meets electronic rock track filled with a bass-heavy driving beat and danceable rhythms. The song chronicles issues with body dysmorphia and the dark side of the fashion and entertainment industry, for an important narrative and contemplative listen.
“I Like the Beach” is a slow burning moody left-of-center pop track filled with soul-baring vocals, intense crescendos of percussion, and haunting harmonics. Andrea sings all about desire and connection with an intense and emotional delivery, creating a web of tension that is as cathartic as it is intriguing. Finally, “Momento” draws the listener in with a washed-out riff, siren-like backup vocals, and shimmering iridescent sonics that feel warm and inviting. Sharing an experience of being fully immersed in a precious moment, the lyrics paint a vivid portrait of an intimate time and place.
Fake Dad aims to create music that is an invaluable source of comfort for their listeners. The duo are open with their own struggles of battling anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia, hoping their transparency will help others know they are not alone. With a unique musical perspective and an unparalleled communal bond with their listeners, Fake Dad has already garnered much-deserved attention, landing over a dozen official Spotify playlists and selling out shows in their hometown. Yerba Mala is another chapter in their evolution as artists.
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