Atlanta’s own Faye Webster has just released her fifth full-length LP Undressed at the Symphony on March 1, 2024. The singles, which include the Lil Yachty-assisted “Lego Ring” and the poetically vulnerable “But Not Kiss”, all indicate we’re getting a new sound from the singer/songwriter. Coming off of the immense praise of her 2021 album, I Know I’m Funny haha, which also showcased the many facets of Webster’s artistry, this new direction shouldn’t come as a surprise. She has built a discography around tinkering with folk music tropes and intertwining them with subtle jazz and modern songwriting.
On the surface, it may seem like Webster has a shadow of mystique around here. While many artists use this to their advantage, Webster is not one of them. Rather, she puts it all in her art, if you have any questions about her life, it can be found somewhere hidden in her discography. Everything from her struggles and confusion about love and relationships to nuanced storytelling of her influences and hometown, you can find it all in her music. Ahead of the release of Undressed at the Symphony, Glide wanted to dive into her catalog to uncover some of her best tracks (so far).
Here is Glide’s list of Essential Faye Webster songs to prepare you for the big release this Friday (March 1), check out our picks below.
“Picture in My Mind”
Run & Tell
Webster’s official debut, Run & Tell was released in 2013 when Webster was just 16. The self-released effort established her as one of the most promising songwriters in folk and “Picture in My Mind” proves exactly why. Each word feels carefully chosen and delivered with such unique melodic phrasing, it is no wonder her debut garnered so much attention. This is the type of song you should read along to, vivid imagery runs rampant over a simplistic yet potent arrangement.
“Mama Stay”
Run & Tell
At just 16, Webster had the emotional intelligence of someone with far more life experience. Her songwriting always leaned to the vulnerable side and this beautiful dedication to her mother is one of the best moments in her discography. Webster thanked her mother by penning a straight-forward “Thank you” ballad with stirring lyrics that can break a stoic man down to an infant.
“It’s Not a Sad Thing”
Faye Webster
On her self-titled LP released in 2017, you can hear Webster slowly coming into her own. The album included the first hints that she would not be another conventional folk artist, she wanted something all to her own. While this is evident in the arrangements, her growth is more nuanced. That is clear on a song like “It’s Not a Sad Thing”, which has Webster contemplating complex emotions while trying to convince herself everything is alright. Even in the face of the lowest of lows, it is important to look at things from a fresh perspective and that is exactly what Webster does on this stand-out from her sophomore LP.
“Wrong People”
Faye Webster
Another track that showcases Webster’s unique perspective on life while venturing into new sonic territory, “Wrong People” feels like a song we all needed to hear at some point. “If you’re the smartest man in the room, you’re hanging with the wrong people” croons Webster over a twangy arrangement with a subtle bounce to it. She explores her environment with the precision of a surgeon while exploring the complexity of growing out of your environment.
“Is It Too Much To Ask”
Faye Webster
Her sophomore album is hidden with refreshing takes on folk tropes and showcases her immense maturity since her 2013 debut. “Is It Too Much To Ask” showcases how much her vocal range changes from one project to the next. Webster is an artist who seems to get better with every album and “Is It Too Much To Ask”, with its simplistic lyrics that still feel relatable and powerful, features a hook that has Webster diving deep only to launch into an infectious melody lined with soaring falsettos.
“Room Temperature”
Atlanta Millionaires Club
Webster’s third album is arguably the best in her short discography. The way she incorporated the sounds of her past releases with her ambitions of crossing genres gave the full album a unique personality and some of the best music Webster has ever released. “Room Temperature” speaks for itself, glimmering melodies wrap around your head as the dynamics of the arrangement add splashes of technicolored, futuristic folk.
“Come to Atlanta”
Atlanta Millionaires Club
In a moment of pure cabaret jazz, Webster introduces us to a more soulful side of her vocal range. The melodic phrasing here feels like the softest gut punch imaginable, complemented by subtle horns and swinging tempos. Webster pays homage to her hometown while putting her jazz influences on full display.
“Pigeon”
Atlanta Millionaires Club
This track in particular shows how her love for folk music will never fully escape her creative process. “Pigeon” has Webster experimenting more with her deliveries while making a minimal arrangement sound full and lively. The harmonies here evoke a lush feeling as Webster refreshingly returns to her roots on an album brimming with experimentation.
“I Know I’m Funny haha”
I Know I’m Funny haha
The title track of Webster’s 2021 LP falls in line with her songs that incorporate her past releases with what is to come. “I Know I’m Funny haha” has the artist harkening back to the vivid storytelling of her debut while the notoriety gave her higher production quality. This song showcases Webster at her best, a twangy arrangement gives her songwriting an extra push to color in the pictures her words paint.
“Both All the Time”
I Know I’m Funny haha
One of the most relatable and moving songs in her discography, “Both All the Time” feels like an anthem for people who don’t know they need one. Webster somehow accurately depicts the confusion of trying to only feel one emotion at once, feeling the pressures to whittle down the many facets of the human experience into just one word. Webster reminds us that not only are you complex, life is a very confusing thing to navigate. She pens a tribute to those moments of feeling lost and articulates these emotions with stunning ease.
