Finneas Taps Into Tenderness on Debut Album, ‘Optimist’
A Review of Finneas’ Debut Album, ‘Optimist’ by Sage Scott
For me, it is satisfying to come across a new album that makes you really stop in your tracks and genuinely listen. Finneas’ debut album Optimist, which was released on October 15th, did just that. Not only did the 24-year-old lure me in with relevant and relatable lyrics, but I was pleasantly surprised by his mature, soulful vocals and the unique fusion of genres from song to song. Since he is Billie Eilish’s producer, co-writer, and older brother, Finneas’ talents have become more well-known these past few years and he has earned eight Grammy awards for his contributions on When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go, Everything I Ever Wanted, and “No Time To Die.” Besides working with his incredibly talented sister, he has been the producer for stars like Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Camila Cabello, Tove Lo, and more. Now, after the release of his 8-track Blood Harmony EP in 2019 and the newest full-length 2021 album, he will finally be kicking off his tour in San Diego on October 25th. Until late November, Finneas will be traveling around North America to serenade and musically rectify all the broken hearts who attend his show.
Despite the album being titled ‘Optimist’, some listeners may interpret this album as pessimistic. Because of the artist’s straightforward lyrics and emotive ballads, I think people’s first initial reaction could be to label songs like “The Kids Are All Dying” as negative and critical. With lyrics like, “do you have a dollar? Would you like to fund a war? What's your carbon footprint and could you be doing more? I tried saving the world, but then I got bored,” Finneas seems to be touching upon the current climate crisis, the funding of wars overseas, and the burnout that comes along with advocating for change. When it comes to paradoxical content, it is easy to dismiss and judge a complete body of work, especially if the content is not amusing, sensual, or flashy. The chorus asks, “how can you sing about love when the kids are all dying? How can you sing about drugs? Politicians are lying.” Here, he appears to be questioning why so many other fellow musicians and public figures refuse to speak up about important issues, utilize resources, and amplify causes on their platforms.
Undoubtedly, this artist does not shy away from singing about the ugly realities of cancel culture, societal hardships, and grief. Through this heartfelt vessel, Finneas has vocalized how the physical world (and his own personal world) have changed. Specifically, “Happy Now?” and “Medieval” speak to experiences of being scrutinized in public and feeling lonely and isolated in private, despite fame and fortune. Not only that, but this album’s theme has a touch of nostalgia and reminiscence. (Honestly, aren’t we all longing for simpler and happier times?)
Out of all 13 tracks, there is a handful that recognize the importance of spending time wisely. His three singles, “The 90s”, “A Concert Six Months From Now”, and “What They’ll Say About Us,” address how limited our moments in life truly are. In “The 90s” Finneas describes how he would happily go back to existing in an era before the internet took over. In reality, this was a time when most folks were less traceable and publicly accessible. He admits at the beginning of the song that he, “hate how easy they can find me. Just by looking up my mom’s address. I think about the 90s, when I was not a problem yet.” Clearly, growing up and becoming a musician in the digital age has all presented certain challenges.
On the other hand, the single “A Concert Six Months From Now” reveals the acoustic, reflective narrative of an on-again/off-again relationship. In the song, he uses storytelling to convey the memory of meeting his romantic interest at the Hollywood Bowl in Southern California, and their turbulent journey ever since. In one of my favorite lyrics, where he personifies the future in a similar way that his sister Billie Eilish does in “My Future”, he writes “if I could see the future, I never would have believed her.” Overall, this is not a song about resolved endings and acceptance. There is a lot of history, and the dynamic seems to be far from over. (Does real love ever truly end or cease to exist? Let’s be real.) According to this melancholy tune, he has been both hopeful and hurting over the past decade. If one thing is for sure, Finneas is still holding a torch and is willing to take his old flame to see their favorite band “six months from now.”
All in all, I think that Optimist shows a realistic and fresh perspective that is not fully optimistic, nor pessimistic. This is interesting because, in a lot of cases, the feeling of hopefulness has the potential to grow and be a lot more fulfilling after facing hardship. According to multiple sources, the song “What They’ll Say About Us” is based on his experience with participating in protests after George Floyd’s murder. In addition to this, Finneas witnessed an acquaintance’s battle with Covid-19 around the same time. Finneas noticed that this person’s wife had the ability to remain hopeful, despite the health challenges her partner was facing. In an NPR interview with Scott Simon, Finneas says that he “wanted to write this song as if I were her, sitting at the bedside of someone you love, and then looking out the window and seeing police with riot shields walking down the street. This strange confluence of crises – you have the long-term, endless cycle of racism, and then you have this immediate concern of illness befalling the people who love” (2021). That being said, when going through incredibly painful experiences, it is not easy to allow your heart to remain tender. Sometimes, it is revolutionary to dream of brighter days when there is so much devastation happening.
During times of heartbreak and healing, the art that emerges during that process is sometimes the most potent. Finishing off the album with the upbeat track “How It Ends” is a great example of how happiness can prevail even after love and loss. Besides his superb production and vocal skills, Finneas definitely expresses his tender side and makes his feelings known on the album. His newest musical offering is sure to be a success, but what is possibly more important during this time especially, is that he’s creating music that addresses collective issues. Moving forward, I believe the exposure and transparency of raw human emotions are sorely needed in this industry (and virtually everywhere.) For that, I applaud Finneas for leaning into these concepts on Optimist, through his clever lyrical inquiries and delightfully moody melodies.