Ashe and FINNEAS team up to release The Dream, a retro pop album under new band, The Favors.
Hey, we should start a band
In February, the account @weshouldmakeaband was created. Although anonymous, the account posted camcorder clips of Ashe and FINNEAS making music together. In March, Austin City Limits Music Festival announced that The Favors, a new band with no members identified, would be part of the 2025 festival. Finally, in June, Ashe and Finneas broke the news online. They were the Favors, and their debut album The Dream would be released on Sept.19.
The full band lineup consists of Ashe (Ashlyn Rae Willson) on vocals, FINNEAS (Finneas O’Connell) on vocals/keys, marinelli (David Marinelli) on drums and Ricky Gourmet on guitars. However, the four-piece is longtime friends and collaborators, with various members working on each other’s projects as well as working for larger musicians. Although FINNEAS and Ashe have thriving solo careers with hundreds of millions of streams, you may know FINNEAS through his work with another artist, his sister, Billie Eilish.
FINNEAS has been Eilish’s longtime producer and songwriter. The duo has won a total of 10 Grammys together. Meanwhile, marinelli is FINNEAS’s childhood friend and an accomplished producer in his own right. He’s produced most of indie pop artists Wallice and spill tab’s discographies. Combined, The Favors is a powerhouse of talent and accomplishments.
A blast from the past
Interestingly, the album itself is a stylistic departure from each musician’s solo work. The Dream takes inspiration from acts like Carole King and Crosby, Simon and Garfunkel and Fleetwood Mac. The album uses soft-spoken duets as well as nostalgic harmonies. The band doesn’t use any electronic sounds or overly-produced beats. Instead, they opt for four-piece productions that sound classic.
In summary, standout songs include “The Little Mess You Made,” “The Hudson” and “The Dream.” All three are tracks build off Ashe and FINNEAS’s dueting vocal harmonies into emotionally resonant choruses. Conversely, marinelli’s drums stand out on titular track “The Dream”. Meanwhile, Gourmet’s guitar solo shines at the end of “Necessary Evils.”
Although it’s rare for a new band to debut fully formed, the chemistry and skill of The Favors is clear. The group has already been performing this year to fan acclaim, and Texas is in for a treat with The Favor’s first ACL performance in October.
I am an Austin, TX-based photographer and filmmaker. I moved from Houston to attend the University of Texas at Austin, where I graduated in 2022. I'm a lifelong music lover and spend tons of time attending shows and making music. Some current favorites are Sophie May, Farmer’s Wife, and K. Flay.
