Friday Song: “The Hudson”
A new song by a new supergroup shows how simple compositions can crush
Finneas Baird O’Connell — stage name, Finneas, best known as the older brother of Billie Eilish (and her main collaborator) — and Ashlyn Rae Willson — stage name, Ashe — hinted at a collaboration with an Instagram account in February 2025 called @weshouldmakeaband.
Finneas and Ashe had collaborated on Ashe’s 2021 album, but this foreshadowed a different level of work from the pair.
Over the ensuing months, speculation mounted as the Austin City Limits Festival posted their lineup with a hidden artist slot, assumed to be for these two. Then they kept appearing in support of one another on their respective tours until an album — The Dream — was finally announced on June 3, 2025, using a new band name, The Favors.
They began performing together in July, and will be performing at the Austin City Limits Festival (October 3), Red Rocks (tonight), and New York City (October 1). The album was released September 19th.
“The Hudson” is their first single from the album. It’s beautiful, and uses a three-chord repetition to perfection.
This recording is from a performance at Hyde Park in London just a couple of weeks ago. The way the singers use wide harmonies, unison singing, and close harmonies to reflect the couple in the story reuniting is wondrous.
Enjoy!