Back in November last year we introduced Friends & Family, the upcoming debut EP from Steven van Betten on Future Gods. The Nevada-born, Los Angeles-based songwriter made a name fronting the experimental rock outfit Fell Runner, and went on to co-found School of Song where he teaches alongside artists like Phil Elverum, Miya Folick, Luke Temple, Lomelda and Meg Duffy. But it was only on releasing ‘I Didn’t Mean to Do That‘ did we get the first impression of his inaugural solo EP. “A gentle, warm song which explores mistakes in all of their guises,” as we put it, “recognising mistakes as a fundamentally human experience, and using this fact as a path toward forgiveness and compassion.”
Then came ‘Yosemite‘, which saw Steven van Betten push further into this tender, honest sound to explore the line between loss and transcendence. “The song was written after a close friend lost a parent at the national park,” we wrote back in July, “which in turn made van Betten reflect on his own childhood memories of a space where human life gets as close as it might to a sense of something larger.” An almost Sufjan-esque sound which enveloped the listener like an embrace.
The title of latest single ‘Surrounded By All These Beautiful People I Love’ suggests this tone carries on through, and sure enough the song offers an ode to the comfort and joy of friendship. Sincerity pushes what might seem like a simple encounter into something magic. “After your set we were sitting on the patio / I told you how much I enjoyed the show,” van Betten sings, “you said thanks so much for being here, it means a lot / I know it’s late on a Tuesday night.”
I felt this warm feeling deep inside
an overwhelming joy to be alive
and be surrounded by all these beautiful people I love
The track comes complete with a video directed by Logan Hone, which is fitting seeing as the track was written for him.
Friends & Family is out on the 27th October via Future Gods.