Famous Friend unveils new single ‘Carmen San Diego’

Los Angeles-based dream rock project Famous Friend, helmed by writer and producer Zachariah Carlson, returns with the release of the nostalgic and introspective single ‘Carmen San Diego’. The track comes alongside the announcement of his forthcoming EP ‘Blue’, set to release on April 2nd, 2025.

Juxtaposing sanguine, surfy guitars with propulsive programmed drums and melancholic lyrics, ‘Carmen San Diego’ delves into the emotional intensity of elusive relationships. Carlson draws on childhood memories—such as playing Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? in his 2nd-grade classroom at Marquez Elementary in the Palisades (damaged in the LA firestorms)—to weave a story rich in nostalgia and introspection.

“I try to be intentional with my use of nostalgia,” Carlson explains. “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.”