Ben Aubergine – Farewell (2026)
As a physician, Ben Aubergine can heal your body; as a musician, Ben Aubergine can heal your soul. Hailing from Chicago, the singer-songwriter began his journey into music a few decades ago, and when life hit, he stepped away to forge a career as a physician, but he caught our eye (and ear) with his passion for music and not his prescription pad. Using quiet reflections and life experiences, Aubergine brings listeners moving melodies that are intimate, relatable, and a solace from the uncertainty of reality. The latest addition to his discography is the single, ‘Farewell’.
‘Farewell’ may have made its way to audiences this year, at least via streaming, but its origins date back to 1996. Originally composed for a cello and acoustic guitar, the track didn’t lean toward Aubergine’s current, guitar-heavy indie-rock sound. Instead, it alludes to the earlier love of, well, not indie-rock stuff. Today’s version continues to shift from the better-known rock style, weaving together the original acoustic foundation with more updated instrumentation – all performed by Aubergine.
Finding a line between cinematic sounds and simplistic, pointedly acoustic tones, ‘Farewell’ is a solid indie-folk song that sends you soaring while simultaneously anchoring you in its melody. Produced by Aubergine, with mastering by Nick Stetina, there is a beauty in its organic composition. The guitar weaves across endearingly, while a steady drumbeat keeps time in the back. For me, however, it is the cello that really makes the song stand out. Haunting in one way, but soothing, the strings section gives it a further emotional shove.
While I can imagine smooth, rich vocals would dance across ‘Farewell’ brilliantly, Aubergine inserts grit and ruggedness with his harder voice. This gruffness captures the unpacking of a broken relationship seamlessly. It’s as if the rough tone enhances the song’s vulnerability and honesty. However, ‘Farewell’ is not meant as a doom-and-gloom, cry-into-your-hankie sob-song; it is a song of relief – “the precise moment when separation transforms from loss into liberation… the relief that accompanies final departure.”
Find out more about Ben Aubergine on his official website, Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Soundcloud, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more indie-folk music on The Other Side Reviews Indie Folk playlist:
