Sanny Veloo's "I've Got You My Friend" Is the Rock Album That Feels Like a Comforting Hand on Your Shoulder!

Some artists you just need to know the backstory on before the music fully clicks with you! Sanny Veloo is absolutely one of them. Born in Singapore, now based in Melbourne, he fronted a punk band back that got banned for being too outspoken! Later, he moved to Australia, collaborated with Gotye, toured the US with G Flip, played SXSW and the House of Blues in LA. The guy was on a ROLL!

Unfortunately, his dad got sick. He stepped away from music entirely to be there for him, and when his father passed, Veloo had this vivid dream where his dad was proudly talking about his music to someone. He woke up and went back to work. And, that's the perfect example of something that either "breaks you or makes you."

So, Veloo came out with "I've Got You My Friend." Ten songs, spanning at 34 minutes and I believe it's one of the most honest rock records out there!

"I Don't Believe the Truth" opens the album and eases you in. It's protest rock. From climate change frying his computer to surveillance ads that somehow knew he dreamt about buying a tiger to neighbours coughing through the walls. It's a satirical paranoia. Strong opener.

"This Lovely Lie" is where the album loosens its collar a bit. It's about that situation where you know the relationship is probably not a good idea but the chemistry is completely overriding your brain chemistry. We've all been there, we've all made the choices and nobody's proud of it.

"A Brighter Tomorrow" is an anthem that actually has a spine. He's pointing at the politicians building walls and the propaganda games and goes, no, we see you, and we're choosing something different anyway. The chorus is quite massive, too!

"Warning Signs" is probably my favourite off the record and I'll share why. It's funny and cleverly witty. A breakup song that's written from the other perspective, where you've already processed the grief and now you're just sort of shaking your head at the whole thing. Absolutely had fun with this one.

"Love Has Set You Free" is where things take a bit of an emotional toll. This one came out of losing his father. But that's not all it is. It moves toward something like acceptance, especially the kind that costs you something to get to. "Dear Rani" is a letter to his mum and it is easily, one of the most affecting yet beautiful song of the record!

"Before It's Gone" is the track that ended up surprising me about the range on this guy. It opens with a plane going down over Darwin and the narrator feeling relieved about it. It is the most cinematic thing on the album!

"Sunset Skies" hits you like a sigh of relief. It's simply a love song about meeting someone who makes you lose track of time. Sometimes you just need a song that's about something good happening, and I'm glad it showed towards the end of the album. The title track "I've Got You My Friend", closes it all out and it's the perfect ending to this magnificent record.

"I've Got You My Friend" maybe isn't that perfect of an album in some technical sense, but I don't think that's what Veloo was going for in the first place. Every song on this album is borrowing from something real such as grief, rage, bad relationships and more. So, if you think this record has something for you, go ahead and hit play!

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