Fake Dad Rally Against ‘The Man’ With New Single, ‘Machinery’
There's never been a better time to get to know L.A.-based indie rock duo Fake Dad, because the two have a very big year ahead of them.
Made up of Andrea de Varona and Josh Ford, the band has made a name for themselves with their impassioned vocals, hazy yet colorful pop sound and relatable storytelling. All of these qualities come together on their latest single, "Machinery," out today, Feb. 6, with Andrea forcefully demanding to know, "Am I just a piece of machinery?"
The track sets the scene with fuzzy '90s-inspired guitars and Andrea's vocals, equal parts angsty and lamenting, over bopping synths as she confronts the way that women everywhere, but particularly in the music industry, feel forced to put themselves into neat boxes for the world. They're driven to present themselves in a specific, attractive and digestible package to simply be seen, turning mere existence into a competition of woman against woman. In the end, they become part of the machine, serving not themselves, but the rich and powerful people who made that machine in the first place.
The song is "about the pressure for women in music to package themselves as consumable, f***able products just to be taken seriously—and how that pits them against each other and themselves," Andrea explained in a press release. "This angry, teeth-grinding rock/pop track was written right after an industry showcase where every girl performing wore the exact same spike-studded bra—too concerned with sizing each other up to actually have a good time. As they eyed each other with loathing and borderline obsession, I stood in the corner feeling really sad that nobody was trying to connect, which is what we were all supposedly there to do. This song was written as a response to the way this kind of woman on woman (or more generally, artist on artist) hate perpetuates these spaces while the real culprits—our sick, sad society governed by narcissistic, billionaire white men—totally fly under the radar. In the end, the man is the real one we're calling out. The one that we're sick and tired of watching get what they want, while we sit back eating from their palm."
(Image courtesy of Fake Dad)
Also read about: Rising Singaporean Singer-Songwriter Regina Song Talks Viral 'the cutest pair' and Solo Tour
"Machinery" also serves as the final single off of Fake Dad's upcoming EP, Holly Wholesome and the Slut Machine, set to release on March 14. Also featuring singles "So Simple!" and "ON/OFF," the EP examines the history of rock music posers, with Fake Dad proudly claiming the title for themselves. Instead, they embrace the idea of putting on an identity as a means of exploration, self-expression and discovering new confidence through wish fulfillment and reinvention.
The EP's songs star the various characters they've stepped into in order to process their own life experiences, from clowns working a fast food grill to ill-fated knights and sleep paralysis demons. The narratives themselves may not be "real," but the universal truths inherent within them are.
(Image courtesy of Fake Dad)
Also read about: Leanna Firestone Dishes on the Playful Western-Inspired Music Video for 'Keeping Score'
Fans will also be able to catch Fake Dad on the road in 2025, with performances at both SXSW and Treefort Music Festival and their first-ever U.S. tour, with Pom Poko, kicking off this spring. Check out their tour dates below:
- March 10 – 15 SXSW – Austin, Texas
- March 25 – Hi-Dive – Denver, Colorado
- March 26 – Kilby Court – Salt Lake City, Utah
- March 27 – Treefort – Boise, Idaho
- March 29 – Mississippi Studios – Portland, Oregon
- March 30 – Sunset Tavern – Seattle, Washington
- March 31 – The Pearl – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- April 2 – Brick and Mortar – San Francisco, California
- April 3 – The Echo – Los Angeles, California
(Image courtesy of Fake Dad)
Listen to "Machinery" on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Music, and connect with Fake Dad on Instagram and TikTok.
For more insights from the artists we love, click HERE to read our interview with Ben Barnes on his debut album, Where the Light Gets In.