SYML
Brian Fennell performing in Norway in 2018
Brian Fennell performing in Norway in 2018
Background information
Birth nameBrian Leseney Fennell
Born (1983-01-16) January 16, 1983 (age 41)
Issaquah, Washington, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
  • guitar
LabelsNettwerk
Websitesymlmusic.com

SYML is the solo venture of Brian Leseney Fennell, who was previously part of the indie band Barcelona. SYML released his eponymous debut album on May 3, 2019, through Nettwerk Records.[1]

Life and career

Brian Fennell was born on January 16, 1983, in Issaquah, Washington, to his adopted parents. From a young age, he began studying classical piano, often playing in his grandmother's retirement home.[2] He began writing his own music when he was 18 years old, his first song being used as a coping mechanism after the death of a schoolmate.[3] After high school, he attended Seattle Pacific University[4] and graduated with a degree in music education with an emphasis in percussion.[3] After years of living in and around Seattle, he returned to his hometown and resides there where he writes and produces out of a home studio.[5]

In 2005, Fennell finished his first solo album “Safety Songs.” By the end of that year, he formed the band Barcelona with Brian Eichelberger, Chris Bristol, and Rhett Stonelake. Their debut album Absolutes was released in 2007. Universal Records signed Barcelona in 2008 and re-released Absolutes with four new songs in 2009.[6][7]

Fennell currently performs under the solo project SYML, Welsh for "simple" and pronounced "sim-muhl", inspired by his own personal heritage from his biological parents, who are Welsh.[2] His experience grappling with his adoption and heritage are influences in his songwriting.[5]

He shared his self-titled debut album in 2019[8] with the now Platinum-certified single "Where's My Love" and the wordless EP You Knew It Was Me in November 2020. In 2021, SYML released his third body of work, titled DIM inspired by his late father's cancer diagnosis.[9] Fennell believes the word 'dim' perfectly describes mourning, a theme he continues to visit throughout his work.[10]

After his song "Where's My Love" was used on the drama TV show Teen Wolf, the song charted for 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart.[11] In 2018, the song received Gold certification in Canada and Belgium,[12] and held the #1 spot on Canada's CBC Top 20 charts twice.[13][14] SYML's "Wildfire" appeared in the Belgian teen drama web series wtFOCK, an adaption of the Norwegian series SKAM. "Where's My Love" was featured prominently in the trailer for the 2018 film Adrift. SYML's singles "Where's My Love", "Fear of Water" and "Body" were featured in the American supernatural drama television series Shadowhunters. In 2020, "Where's My Love" appeared in the movie Chemical Hearts.[15]

SYML collaborated with Lana Del Rey on the song “Paris, Texas” which was released on March 24, 2023 on the album Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd. The song samples SYML’s instrumental track “I Wanted to Leave” from his EP You Knew It Was Me.[16]

On February 3, 2023, SYML released his sophomore album titled The Day My Father Died, which consists of 15 tracks. The album was produced by Phil Ek and includes collaborations with Lucius, Guy Garvey, Sara Watkins, and Charlotte Lawrence. Expanding on themes from his previous EP DIM, the album focuses on “what happens after we have lost.”[17]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Year
SYML 2019
The Day My Father Died 2023

Live albums

Title Year
Sacred Spaces[18] 2021

EPs

Title Year Ref(s)
Hurt for Me 2016 [19]
Where's My Love 2017 [1]
Hurt for Me (Piano & Strings) [20]
In My Body 2018 [21]
You Knew It Was Me 2020 [22]
Dim 2021 [23]
Ancient Call [24]

Singles

List of singles, showing year released and selected notes
Title Year Note(s) Ref(s)
"Mr. Sandman" 2017 [25]
"Where's My Love" #35 Alternative Songs[26]
[29]
"Wildfire" (Instrumentals) 2018 [30]
"Clean Eyes" #29 Alternative Songs[26]
"The Bird" 2019
"Symmetry"
"Take Me Apart"
"Flags" 2020
"True" 2021
"Stay Close"
"Sweet Home" 2022
"You and I" (featuring Charlotte Lawrence)
"Have a Little Faith in Me"
"Lost Myself"
"Lost Myself" (featuring Guy Garvey)
"Howling" (featuring Lucius)
"Better Part of Me" (featuring Sara Watkins)
"Wilderado" (Sure Fire SYML remix)
"I Wanted to Leave" (Sitar Version)
(featuring Rishab Rikhiram Sharma)
"Chariot" 2023 #39 Adult Alternative Airplay[31]
"Believer"
"Mother"
"Tragic Magic (Dream Version)"
"All of Us"
"My Best Self" (with Elsa y Elmar)

Guest appearances

Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Paris, Texas"[32] 2023 Lana Del Rey Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd

References

  1. ^ a b "SYML". www.symlmusic.com. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
  2. ^ a b Fennell, Brian (April 28, 2021). "On Grieving Someone Before They're Gone".
  3. ^ a b FaceCulture (2017-12-21), SYML interview (part 1), retrieved 2018-07-12
  4. ^ "Barcelona band has MI roots". Mercer Island Reporter. 2008-11-24. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  5. ^ a b "Simplicity, Sad Songs, & How Shazam Inadvertently Launched His Solo Career: A Q&A With SYML". Ones to Watch. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
  6. ^ "Barcelona band has MI roots". Mercer Island Reporter. 2008-11-24. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  7. ^ Cargo Live at Whitney Peak Hotel | Barcelona | Episode 110 | PBS, retrieved 2023-10-13
  8. ^ Clarke, Kayla (2019-05-09). "REVIEW: Washington artist SYML releases gripping, self-titled debut album". WDIV. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  9. ^ Staff, Wonderland (2021-04-16). "SYML Talks Us Through His Grief Inspired EP "DIM"". Wonderland. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  10. ^ Staff, Wonderland (2021-04-16). "SYML Talks Us Through His Grief Inspired EP "DIM"". Wonderland. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  11. ^ "Syml Where's My Love Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 20, 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
  12. ^ "SYML and SAM FELDT Collaborate on "Where's My Love"". www.nettwerk.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-19. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
  13. ^ "CBC Music Top 20, March 15: Janelle Monae, Big Little Lions debut and SYML is new at No. 1". CBC Music. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
  14. ^ "CBC Music Top 20, March 29: Natalie Prass and Megan Bonnell debut but James Bay has the highest new entry". CBC Music. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
  15. ^ Sorren, Martha. "Every Devastating Song From "Chemical Hearts"". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  16. ^ Lana Del Rey (Ft. SYML) – Paris, Texas, retrieved 2023-10-13
  17. ^ Jason (2022-10-21). "SYML'S SOPHOMORE ALBUM THE DAY MY FATHER DIED DUE FEBRUARY 3". Nettwerk Music Group. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  18. ^ "SYML release of his new live album 'Sacred Spaces' with an extensive European tour". FrontView Magazine. October 19, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  19. ^ Hurt for Me, 9 September 2016, retrieved 2018-07-11
  20. ^ Hurt for Me (Piano & Strings), 4 August 2017, retrieved 2018-07-11
  21. ^ In My Body, 12 January 2018, retrieved 2018-07-11
  22. ^ S Y M L on Instagram: “My first wordless EP, You Knew It Was Me, comes out everywhere on Friday, but you can hear it early by ordering a signed milky translucent…”
  23. ^ "SYML Talks Us Through His Grief Inspired EP "DIM"". Wonderland. 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-10-02.
  24. ^ Ancient Call, 2021-07-30, retrieved 2021-10-02
  25. ^ Mr. Sandman, 12 May 2017, retrieved 2018-07-11
  26. ^ a b "Syml Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  27. ^ "Oct 2023 Single Accreds" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  28. ^ "British certifications – SYML – Where's My Love". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  29. ^ Where's My Love, 30 October 2017, retrieved 2018-07-11
  30. ^ Wildfire (Instrumentals), 11 January 2018, retrieved 2018-07-11
  31. ^ "Adult Alternative Airplay: Week of April 29, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  32. ^ Daly, Rhian (March 23, 2023). "A who's who guide to Lana Del Rey's 'Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd'". The Forty-Five. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
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