After five solo albums as Halfnoise, Paramore drummer Zac Farro is releasing his first LP under his own name—less as a statement about a change in musical direction (well, it’s also that, thanks in part to his slow immersion into the local Nashville alt-country scene) than it is one of stark introspection and personal revelation. The songs on Operator all deal with communication in one way or another, particularly unspoken moments between family members and romantic partners that lead to the struggle of navigating situations in your own head.
“Operator is an album about self-reflection—the inner dialogue we have with ourselves,” Farro explains. “It’s about processing life and the everyday situations we all go through. Some moments are as small as someone not answering the phone; others are as big as losing a family member or watching someone you love get sick. The older I get, the more precious life becomes. Operator is my attempt to outwardly process the thoughts and emotions I’m working through in real time.”
That outward processing isn’t nearly as morose as it may sound, with Farro taking inspiration from ’70s soft-rock on these nine upbeat tunes. There are traces of folk, funk, R&B, and gentle psychedelia coursing through the tracklist—an overall sense of cohesion that’s largely at odds with lyrics about stressing missed connections and struggling to calibrate our brains with those we love.
With the record out today via Farro’s own Congrats Records, stream along and find his track-by-track breakdown of the songs’ themes below. You can also purchase the album here.
1. “Operator”
This song is about missing someone—being on a different page, so to speak. Metaphorically, it’s like playing phone tag. It introduces the themes of the album: the second-guessing that happens when you can’t reach someone and are left alone with your thoughts.
2. “Second Chance”
This was the very first song I wrote for the album. It helped shape the vision for everything that followed. It’s about replaying a moment over and over—something you wish you could take back and do differently. Relationships are the biggest mirror we have to look into.
3. “1”
This one’s about individuality. I mainly wrote it about my partner—the most unique person I know. But it applies to all kinds of relationships. It’s a reminder that being completely yourself is one of the coolest things you can offer to others.
4. “Simple Actions”
This is a great example of inner dialogue in action. It touches on the struggles of emotional distance in close relationships, especially within family. Sometimes the people closest to you can feel like strangers. It can be healing to just ask, “Whatever happened…aren’t you happy? Are you waiting for me?”
5. “My My”
This might not be the most vulnerable song on the album, but it’s close. I was on a walk with our dog when the lyrics hit me all at once. I stopped and wrote them down. Sometimes inspiration comes like that. Other times it takes weeks or months. This song is about watching someone you love begin to say goodbye to someone they love deeply. Witnessing that changes you. Wanting to help but feeling helpless is one of the hardest places to be as a human.
6. “Gold Days”
One day I was driving and passed my old house. I pulled over and just sat there, thinking. When we’re young, life is all about what’s right in front of us—there’s nowhere to be, no ticking clock. I thought about how sweet that feeling was. These days, time slips away if I don’t stay present. This song is another moment of reflection.
7. “All I Really Want Now”
This one’s simple: it’s about falling deeper in love with someone over time. Choosing to stay together through both the good and the hard moments.
8. “Sunday Driving”
This is a special one. Not many songs I’ve made feel so aligned both sonically and lyrically. This song feels like a car ride—no destination, no rush. Aimless, yet filled with the quiet purpose of simply being together.
9. “I Need You”
This was the toughest song, emotionally, to make. I wrote it from the perspective of my partner—in the same vein as “My My.” When someone you love is going through deep pain, it’s hard to know how to help. I tend to want to fix things, but sometimes the best thing you can do is just listen and be present. I struggled with the vocal performance—almost couldn’t sing it—but I think that’s a good sign. Because it’s real.
