Syml

On November 6, 2026, SYML plays the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver. The solo project of American songwriter Brian Fennell (Issaquah, Washington), SYML sits between indie pop, hushed folk and airy electronics, with songs built around voice, piano and understated arrangements. The name means “simple” in Welsh, a nod to Fennell’s heritage and to themes he often revisits: adoption, family ties and loss.

From early EPs like Hurt for Me and In My Body to the self-titled debut album in 2019, SYML has shaped a restrained, melodic writing that leaves space for silence and texture. Live albums Sacred Spaces (2021) and Live at Hangar 30 (2024) extend that approach on stage. The Day My Father Died (2023), produced by Phil Ek with contributions from Lucius, Guy Garvey, Sara Watkins and Charlotte Lawrence, deepened the focus on grief and connection, while Infinity (2024) and Nobody Lives Here (2025) carried it forward with slow-burn melodies and discreet synth layers. In concert, he favors intimate dynamics, piano-led contours and subtle electronics, keeping the spotlight on songwriting and voice.