“My voice, even as it wavers, has something to say” says babename bandsinger/songwriter Jamie Averley, and what a voice it is. Averley’s ethereal, stacked vocals give the listener the impression of being inside the narrator’s head, an intimate moment in time for each track on their debut album. With a central theme of power, both our own and hierarchical and the deconstruction of authority, this album focuses on the deeply personal process of stepping into one’s own identity. While Seattle is home to quite a few dreamy indie/pop bands, make no mistake, babename is not nameless in the crowd. They stand out with dynamic percussion, wet guitar tones, nostalgic jangle, and a bass like a second vocal cord, while Averley’s vocals provide the glue holding it all together.
The title track on the album, ‘Highlights’ out today is the anchor. A subtle, walking bassline keeps the song feeling grounded and mirrors the album’s overall feeling of growing and maturing. Perhaps this is a testament to growth both individually for Averley and of the band from their start to the current musically complex, expansive sound.
I tend to love a dark, moody moment. ‘Necropolitic’ is the shadow that makes the light feel real on ‘Highlights.’ Intellectually dense, politically charged, and lyrically haunting, this track shifts from dreamy to dissonance, and I am here for it. Truly, the friction of a track like this makes the “highlights” of the album feel earned rather than superficial.
You can order the album on their website and stream them on all major streaming platforms, or see them tonight, 27 February 2026 at their album release show at The Mountain Room in Seattle, WA.
You can find more information about babename on their socials Website | Instagram | YouTube | Bandcamp