A Glimpse into The Army, The Navy’s "Fake Brave Life”
The Army, The Navy’s debut album Fake Brave Life, released on June 12th, is nothing short of transcendent. As their singles promised, the album is a vulnerable, intimate project that departs from and expands upon the sound The Army, The Navy is known for. It explores the band as people–as Maia Ciambriello and Sasha Goldberg, and their journey as friends and individuals, as their dreams come true.
Fake Brave Life is an examination of what it means to be “fake brave,” its impact on relationships, and how we move through the world. The Army, The Navy posted a note on Instagram when the album debuted, reflecting, “Everyday, we practice acts of feigned courage as artists. . . Every time we perform, write, or even post singing videos, we try on that bravery until it translates into true courage.”
The album’s track progression follows the Hero’s Journey, showing the band as they traverse from the Known to the Unknown, and every challenge in between. We travel along with them, enduring the Call to Adventure, the moment that their comfort is broken, and the struggle to accept change. The Army, The Navy cross the Threshold in “2Collide,” with that feeling of triumph as they grow braver. Then, the realization that perhaps they merely have fake bravery, and the feelings of inadequacy that come with faking bravery. The album culminates with “Fake Brave,” which directly questions the concept: Am I still brave if I’m faking it? The Army, The Navy leaves us at the end of the Hero’s Journey, with an acceptance that life comes with inescapable fear, and that we all have to pretend to be brave at times in order to achieve our dreams.
Cover Art via Spotify
The album is an intoxicating listen. Its lyricism and instrumentation are beautiful and gripping, true to The Army, The Navy’s sound that we know and love. Maia and Sasha’s vocals and harmonies are stronger than ever, their voices complementing each other like a breath of fresh air. Their instrumentals display their masterful understanding of dynamics and technical composition, with each track’s accompaniments strengthening and reflecting the lyrics’ emotional trajectory. Fake Brave Life guides its audience through the ebbs and flows of living fake brave, from the perspective of The Army, The Navy.
Fake Brave Life’s musical accompaniments are a massive standout to this debut. The band’s past discography aligns more with folk, with acoustic guitar and softer vocals predominating. This new album expands on that sound, dipping into jazz instrumentations. The band stated on Instagram that their “friendship blossomed in New Orleans,” and, in homage to their connection, they recorded most of the album in the South. This homage is seen through TATN’s use of brass, drums/snare, piano, and string instruments. These instruments work in tandem with the band’s signature guitar arpeggios, elevating the album’s mission to depict a rounded, poignant story of growth.
The album’s reflective middle section–The Initiation in the Hero’s Journey, to go back to that trope–most directly pulls from jazz. “Big One” and “Moody” deviate the most from TATN’s typical sound, featuring the rhythmic upright bass plucking, soft snare, and yearning horns. This emphasis on traditional jazz instrumentation in such a pensive section adds to its emotional weight, given the band's deep connection to the genre’s origins. The choice conveys the necessity to return home, even in thought, to remember the “why” in life.
Fake Brave Life is a moving, intimate journey through The Army, The Navy’s experience as artists. Every technical and creative aspect of the album enhances its delivery and reception, from its composition to its visuals. Its genre-bending instrumentation that reflects the band’s roots, paired with their extremely vulnerable lyricism modeled after the Hero’s Journey, holistically creates an experience unique to The Army, The Navy–Maia and Sasha.
The artistic duo is at a major turning point in their careers. Fake Brave Life debuted larger than life on the 12th in the middle of Times Square–a huge feat for any artist, but especially massive for a band that began releasing music in 2022, and first gained traction on TikTok. Their audience is growing and growing, and is only bound to expand as they tour with Lord Huron and perform at Lollapalooza in July.
Fake Brave Life is a reflection of Maia and Sasha at this monumental point in their journey as The Army, The Navy. It’s rich with vulnerability, unpacking the act of courage in a deeply personal way, yet relatable to anyone and everyone who listens. The Army, The Navy carved out a piece of their hearts and made it into art, showing us exactly what can happen when you’re fake brave.
Image via Instagram, @thearmy_thenavy
