BEST NEW SONG: FINNEAS - COLLEGE

When FINNEAS “College” first arrived in my inbox I feared I was about to be exposed to some earnest white boy acoustic cover of the infamous Asher Roth song. Thankfully that wasn’t the case, and I was instead treated to a very modern song of love and loss.

Even with his recent Zane Lowe bump FINNEAS, real name Finneas O'Connell, is still best know as Billie Eilish’s brother. While he absolutely co-wrote the bulk of her debut EP, including the smash hit “Ocean Eyes,” he may be changing his epitaph here very shortly.

“College” is a highly relatable song about moving on from a relationship when one party moves away. Breakups caused by geography and/or continued education rarely get any sense of closure. This track addresses that and (checks notes) online bullying.

According to O’Connell, “College” is “the last song I ever wrote about the first girl I ever fell in love with.” In particular, the song is a response to s slew of cruel social media posts by his ex regarding him and his new bae. Least you think this cut is merely some repackaged Twitter Beef, O’Connell reacts to these slights calmly and maturely, urging all parties involved to move on.

Along with his sister, O’Connell has collaborated with several up and coming acts including Tori Kelly and Wafia, but more recently he has begun to step out on his own. With “College” he proves that the hype is justified, creating a mesmerizing soundscape and lush melodies to examine the dynamic between finding something new and clinging to the comfort of what you already know.

It’s a beautiful and honest song as well as the best response to subtweeting I’ve ever seen. Whether you’re trying to move on or the one stuck in the past, pick a side and dive in to this fantastic new effort:

FINNEAS - COLLEGE

O’Connell has been releasing his own music since 2016 and this sense that he’s building towards something bigger is unmistakable. A staple of Billie’s live band, he has recently parlayed that into a solo gig at SXSW as well as a few headlining shows in Los Angeles where he is based.

While we wait for dude to put out a proper debut, you can catch him live this fall in the states. Dates and venues are below:

OCT 20 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
OCT 23 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
OCT 24 Seattle, WA Showbox SoDo
NOV 09 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
NOV 13 Dallas, TX Granada Theater

Calvin Paradise is not any one thing. The half-hearted vagabond and forgetful luddite currently resides in Los Angeles and how he spends his time is none of your damned business.