Famous Friend, the sun-soaked dream rock project of Los Angeles writer/producer Zachariah Carlson, today shares his new track “Carmen San Diego.” The single is accompanied by the announcement of a new EP, Blue, set for release on April 2.
Juxtaposing sanguine surfy guitars and propulsive programmed drums with melancholic lyrics, “Carmen San Diego” weaves in childhood touchstones to convey the emotional intensity of an elusive relationship—ranging from Carlson’s favorite soda pop to playing the titular video game Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? in his 2nd-grade classroom (Marquez Elementary in the Palisades, badly damaged in the LA firestorms).
“I try to be intentional with my use of nostalgia,” says Famous Friend of the track. “It’s less about yearning for simpler times and more about incorporating the optimism of childhood into today’s challenges. My memory of playing Carmen Sandiego is using geography clues to find this elusive woman in red. I found a parallel in using context clues to determine where a person is at emotionally.”
Produced and performed entirely by Famous Friend, the Blue EP is a document of life, love and observations from within the complex and often surreal city of Los Angeles, where Carlson was born and raised. 2024’s Tanlines EP was released to staggering viral success, seeing singles “Nora” and the titular “Tanlines” netting over 1 million streams and several million social media impressions, alongside strong radio support from KCRW DJs Travis Holcombe, Nassir Nassirzadeh and Raul Campos.
Where Tanlines bottled the fiery SoCal sun, Blue immerses listeners in the reflective cold ocean waters of a more introspective journey. The previously released title track offers a meditation on staying present — escaping the confines of spiraling thoughts to focus on the physical joy of swimming with someone you love.
Each Famous Friend track provides a choose-your-own adventure of layered intricacy. Peeling back the lush and beachy melodies unveils deep examinations and anxieties of the human experience.
“I’m less interested in lamenting my own struggles with anxiety,” says Carlson. “Instead, I’m drawn to exploring the coexistence of multiple emotions at once. It’s about providing a salve for both myself and anyone who may be unable to identify exactly how they feel, but turn to music for relief.”
A prolific figure among the LA scene, the multi-instrumentalist is also a frequent writer and producer for premiere indie and alternative acts like Winnetka Bowling League, Casket Cassette, and Nashon as well as composer for TV shows like the Emmy-Nominated Alexa & Katie. After a hiatus from the spotlight, Famous Friend made a triumphant return in 2023, touring across the US and headlining shows in LA.
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