Inside Fake Dad’s Creative Partnership: Fiction, Freedom, and Real-Life Chemistry

Some bands have chemistry. Fake Dad has something deeper: a true creative partnership that’s built on years of trust, shared taste, and emotional honesty. Speaking with Andrea de Varona and Josh Ford over Zoom, it’s clear they’re more than musical collaborators. They’re what you call Couple Goals—in the most genuine, unforced way.

With Holly Wholesome and the Slut Machine, Fake Dad tap into a playful, fictional world they built together—a cast of burger-flipping clowns, star-crossed knights, and sleep paralysis demons. What began as an exercise in imagination quickly turned personal, as the duo realized they were using these characters to process their own experiences around identity, sexuality, and the realities of being a couple in a straight-passing relationship.

“The word ‘slut’ has changed so much,” Andrea reflected. “Now it can feel empowering, like how women use ‘bitch’ affectionately. But there’s still tension in it, and we wanted the album title to capture both sides.”

Originally, they landed on “Slut Machine” alone, drawing inspiration from the confrontational energy of Riot Grrrl bands and the absurdity of 100 gecs’ “money machine.” But the addition of “Holly Wholesome” added a needed layer — a nod to Hollywood glamor and 1950s moralism, creating a juxtaposition that captured the tension and playfulness at the heart of the record.

Throughout our conversation, what stood out most was how organically Fake Dad’s music and relationship grew together. They met at an NYU party in the East Village (“one of those early college nights where you feel so grown up,” Josh laughed) and bonded over a mix of shared and contrasting tastes—Alabama Shakes, Blind Pilot, Erykah Badu, and Amy Winehouse. Even before they officially collaborated musically, they were building a shared language—learning to trust each other’s instincts while respecting each other’s differences.

“Music was always part of it,” Josh said. “But we built trust through sharing our favorite songs, and more importantly, challenging each other’s ideas about writing and creating.”

Today, that balance of structure and spontaneity still defines their creative process. “We disagree all the time,” Andrea said, laughing. “But we have so much trust that it never turns into a fight. If a song feels too forced, we put it aside.” Josh added, “Sometimes the hardest part is knowing when to do less. To make more happen with fewer elements.”

On Holly Wholesome and the Slut Machine, that ease and intentionality are palpable. Tracks like “Crybaby” offer playful yet poignant melodies, while “Odyssey to Venice”—inspired by the painfully real experience of battling LA traffic just to get to the beach — captures a mix of dreaminess and frustration. The song’s imagery, lines like “delirium on the freeway” and “I wanna go to the ocean where the truth feels a little different,” feels especially personal for me, since my family now lives in Venice, California.

Another standout, “So Simple!,” showcases Andrea’s decision to embrace her Cuban-American identity by integrating Spanish lyrics. She shared that she’s been finding ways to let Spanish naturally make its way into their music, allowing it to flow organically rather than forcing it. “It wasn’t something I overthought,” she explained. “It just came out naturally, like it demanded to be sung that way.”

Thematically, the EP reflects a push and pull between ambition, sexual liberation, and self-preservation. “There’s so much pressure in this industry,” Andrea said. “You start wondering, ‘If I were just a little more this, a little more that, would I be closer to my goals?’ But you have to hold onto who you really are.”

Their recent tour marked a major milestone: their first full-band US tour, including performances at SXSW and Treefort Music Festival. One highlight? Playing a packed, unexpectedly electric set in Boise, Idaho. “We started playing to an empty room,” Josh remembered, “and by the end of the first song, the room was packed with hundreds of people who didn’t even know who we were.”

Now back home in Los Angeles, Fake Dad is diving back into writing. They’re toying with the idea of releasing a deluxe edition of the EP, but mostly, they’re back in their apartment studio, creating with the same curiosity and mutual respect that first brought them together.

“We’re still living in the world of Holly Wholesome,” Andrea said. “But we’re excited to see where the next chapter takes us.”

Whether building fictional worlds or quietly evolving their real one, Fake Dad’s music feels like a living, breathing extension of their bond—authentic, dynamic, and beautifully messy.

As soon as they announce a New York show, you can bet I’ll be first in line— happily third-wheeling their unstoppable energy and warmness.