The solo project of Barcelona lead singer Brian Fennell, SYML gets its name from Fennell’s Welsh heritage—translated, the word (pronounced “sim-mel”) means “simple.” Fittingly, Fennell’s solo compositions and recordings share an appealing simplicity: vulnerable, relatively unadorned songs backed by acoustic guitar or piano with Fennell’s clean tenor front and center. Fennell has been making music as a soloist since 2005, but he didn’t start releasing SYML projects in earnest until 2016. He quickly found success with the cinematic double-platinum single “Where’s My Love,” which, fittingly, has appeared in the soundtracks to a number of films and TV shows. Though confessional lyrics are central to his sound, his moody, atmospheric sensibility also translates well to instrumental tracks like “I Wanted to Leave”—he even recorded a sitar version of the song. Fennell hails from Washington, and his acoustic-folk-leaning songs like “How It Was It Will Never Be Again,” “Wake,” and “Heartbreakdown” feel particularly well-suited to a cloudy, Pacific Northwestern, flannel-clad ambiance.