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Sonder Son
Studio album by Brent Faiyaz
Released	October 13, 2017
Genre	R&B pop
Length	42:25
Label	Lost Kids Venice Stem
Producer	Brent Faiyaz Atu Ben Free D-Pat James Harte Joey Lopez Los Hendrix Nascent Pablo Dylan Paperboy Fabe Yves “Bus” Bazelais Jr.
Brent Faiyaz chronology
Into (with Sonder) (2017) Sonder Son (2017) Lost (2018)

Sonder Son is the debut studio album by American R&B singer Brent Faiyaz, released on October 13, 2017, through Lost Kids, Venice Music, and Stem Disintermedia. With no guest appearances, the album's production was primarily handled by Faiyaz, D-Pat, and Atu, the three members of Sonder, with assistance from Ben Free, Joey Lopez, Los Hendrix, Paperboy Fabe, and several other producers. The album serves as a follow-up to Faiyaz's solo EP, A.M. Paradox (2016), and Sonder's EP, Into (2017).

Background and recording

Upon the release of the album, Faiyaz appeared in an interview with Clash in which the album was described as Faiyaz's "autobiography". He revealed that initially, Sonder Son would be a concept album based on his experience of moving to Los Angeles, California, from his hometown of Columbia, Maryland, however, he scrapped because he'd "be skipping out a lot of shit". When asked about the album's recording process, he noted that he "didn't really do it chronologically" and that he "really just wanted to make it mad personal" and for " knew was good music but for personally, it wasn’t as personal as this project". When asked about his writing process, Faiyaz explained that he "write a lot anyway, whether it be poems or short notes or little things throughout the week or the day or whatever". He continued, "a lot of shit based off conversation. Those can turn into songs or they can just say how they are. But pretty much write anywhere. And then sometimes can go into the studio and not write at all". During the interview, Faiyaz revealed that during the recording process, he listened to Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, Aaliyah, and Lauryn Hill's critically acclaimed, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. He also stated that he'd often listen to Tupac Shakur's Me Against the World. In Faiyaz's interview with Complex, he stated that the album's title is an extension of Sonder because he's the group's lead vocalist, therefore, he "figured it made sense to call the project Sonder Son because that’s where it all came from". He also stated that the project is "a lot more personal and introspective" than his previous work. Faiyaz revealed that he spent a month in the Dominican Republic to record the album because of his Dominican ancestry. He stated he wanted to leave the country to record his debut album because "being out there brought some different energy out of that couldn’t get in L.A.", and that "interacting with people who didn’t have nothing made me see that the shit I thought was important was insignificant". In February 2018, Faiyaz appeared in an interview with Billboard, Faiyaz said that while on the plane ride to the Dominican Republic, the only album he listened to was The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and that it inspired him to make the album unique, noting that he wanted to "do something different".

In April, Faiyaz appeared in an interview with the Los Angeles Times' Sonaiya Kelley, Faiyaz spoke about the foundation of Sonder, noting that "the main reason we started Sonder and released it under that name was because if we were to say 'Dpat and Atu with Brent' it just wouldn’t sound as good". Faiyaz revealed that going to the Dominican Republic "affected the whole concept of the album" due to the "rampant" poverty acting as a culture shock to him. He stated that there were "a lot of ideas that had prior to the trip that scrapped once got there. The thought was important to really wasn’t important no more". When asked about the writing process, Faiyaz said:

It’s one of those albums that take a whole lifetime to write. I mean, we did it fast, but I think it’s because a lot of inspiration for the album was from a long time ago. So it was easy to put together a project so quickly when it’s a record about your whole introduction.

Release and promotion

While on the twelve-stop US Into Tour with Sonder, on September 19, Faiyaz revealed the album's official artwork, tracklist, and release date through his Instagram. Upon the release of the album, Faiyaz announced the pre-sale of his solo North America, seventeen-stop Sonder Son Tour, beginning on January 30, 2018, in Chicago, Illinois, and concluding on March 2, in Seattle, Washington. The tour was supported by Diana Gordon and Amber Olivier. Following the completion of the tour, Faiyaz added an additional three dates in London, England, on March 14, Paris, France, on March 16, and Berlin, Germany, on March 18. On July 18, Faiyaz released the Noah Lee-directed official music video for "Gang Over Luv" which "tells the story of a camera lens surveying questions of solitude".

Critical reception

Exclaim!'s Yasin Rahman wrote that on Sonder Son, "he slows it down and reflects on his past" and "takes listeners on a journey through his recently found fame." He stated that "simple instrumentals and a melodic voice play secondary components to the story here," and that " Faiyaz reflects on his past dealings with family, friends, and lovers." He noted that Faiyaz's "songwriting vividly depicts his life," however, there is a "lack of instrumental variety throughout the project." Concluding his review, he wrote that Faiyaz "reflects on his past as he pushes forward in his career" and that "it would be interesting to see Faiyaz sing across a broader range of sounds." Writing for Pitchfork, Claire Lobenfeld stated that Sonder Son is a "forthright about the fact that we need each other to survive." Lobenfeld compared the project to Frank Ocean's February 2011, Nostalgia, Ultra, stating that it "has the same highly intimate, nothing-to-lose quality" of the project. Continuing her review, she stated that "the album is well-studied in the tones and textures of the past" and "the songs here may not be so sticky, but the promise of his potential is undeniable."

Year-end lists

Track listing

Release history

References

1. ^ Lobenfeld, Claire (October 28, 2017). "Brent Faiyaz: Sonder Son Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
2. ^ Jasmine Montgomery, Sarah (October 12, 2017). "Sonder's Brent Faiyaz shares his debut album Sonder Son". The Fader. Archived from the original on July 18, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
3. Price, Joe (October 13, 2017). "Listen to Brent Faiyaz's Gorgeous Debut Album Sonder Son". Pigeons & Planes. Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
4. Smith, Trevor (October 15, 2017). "Listen To Brent Faiyaz' Highly Anticipated Debut Sonder Son". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on October 6, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
5. ^ Brydon, Grant (November 1, 2017). "The Process: Clash meets Brent Faiyaz". Clash. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
6. Diaz, Angel (October 19, 2017). "Brent Faiyaz Just Might Be the Future of R&B". Complex. Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
7. Lamarre, Carl (February 9, 2018). "Brent Faiyaz on the Success of Sonder Son, His Love for Lauryn Hill & Why He Plans to Stay Independent "Forever"". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
8. Kelley, Sonaiya (April 4, 2018). "Brent Faiyaz on Sonder's origins, album Sonder Son and why he only spent 20 minutes at the Grammys". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 2165-1736. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
9. Ortiz, Edwin (September 19, 2017). "Exclusive: Brent Faiyaz Reveals Release Date, Tracklist, and Cover Art for Debut Album Sonder Son". Complex. Archived from the original on August 2, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
10. Jasmine Montgomery, Sarah (September 19, 2017). "Sonder's Brent Faiyaz Shares Release Date For Sonder Son". The Fader. Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
11. "Brent Faiyaz Announces Sonder Son Tour". IllRoots. October 26, 2017. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
12. "New Dates Added With Brent Faiyaz!". Zuri-Appleby. January 9, 2018. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
13. Ch, Devin (July 18, 2018). "Brent Faiyaz Offers Fleeting Desire On "Gang Over Luv"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on October 6, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
14. ^ Rahman, Yasin (October 13, 2017). "Brent Faiyaz Sonder Son Review". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
15. Kevito, Clark (December 20, 2017). "The Best Albums Of 2017". Okayplayer. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
16. "Brent Faiyaz Sonder Son Limited RED vinyl LP". Discrepancy-Records. Archived from the original on October 6, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
17. "Brent Faiyaz Sonder Son BLACK VINYL LP". Discrepancy-Records. Archived from the original on October 6, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.

• 2017 albums
• Brent Faiyaz albums