BØRNS • Courtney Farren • October 28, 2025 • The Depot
Reviewed and Photographed by Morgan Newbold
Last week, I had the pleasure of photographing BØRNS as they made their stop in Salt Lake City on their Decade of Dopamine tour! This album, surpassing 10 years, is crazy; it was such an integral part of my early teen years! They played in the heart of downtown at The Depot, one of my favorite venues in the city. It was a sold-out show. Packed with young and grown fans, most of whom have been listening to this band for 10 years!
Everyone was dressed their best, some even in Halloween costumes, as the show was just a few days before then! I was very excited to see him for the first time, and I was taken by surprise that it was the anniversary tour of Dopamine! I sat in front of the stage, eager, just like the rest of the room, to be taken back to a nostalgic and happy time!
BØRNS is the stage name of Garrett Borns, an American artist born in Michigan. Blending dreamy synth-pop, glam rock, and indie influences, he rose to fame with his 2015 debut album Dopamine, featuring the hit single “Electric Love.” Known for his soaring falsetto and androgynous style, BØRNS quickly became a standout in the alternative pop scene. He has opened for music icons like Halsey, Charli XCX, Mumford and Sons, The Lumineers, and Lana Del Rey! His next album, Blue Madonna, released in 2018, expanded his lush, retro-modern sound before he took a hiatus from music. Returning in 2023 with the Suddenly EP, he showcased a more introspective direction. Now back with a new album, Honeybee, BØRNS has evolved into a fresh but recognizable sound!
Courtney Farren
The show was opened up by Courtney Farren, the adorable indie singer-songwriter and producer based in Los Angeles. Known for her intimate lyrics and dreamy, lo-fi pop sound, she writes and produces her own music, blending honesty and humor in her storytelling. She was so fun and had the cutest clown costume, while her performing partner, seemingly one of her best friends, was dressed as a cowgirl!
BØRNS
When the time finally came for BØRNS, the crowd was buzzing with excitement, murmuring and cheering, excited to see Garret in person! Somehow, I didn’t know much about him, and I was very quickly charmed by his stage presence and soft personality. He was funny and playful and really engaging with the crowd! The band came on all dressed up for Halloween! They opened with Seeing Stars and a bunch of songs back to back from Dopamine. Garret went back and forth between center stage and sitting at the piano, masterfully transitioning between upbeat and mellow songs.
At many times during the show, he would take a moment to tell a story about the song, or himself, or tell a joke. He incorporated playful magic tricks into his witty storytelling and had the entire crowd engaged in delight! Then he returned to play more from his newer albums, including Grateful For, a personal favorite of mine, and from his newest album, Honeybee, which were all so delightful and lovely as I was hearing them for the first time!
The show had minimal visuals but dramatic and soft lighting, and everything was sleek and intentional. Not much visual noise, all the attention was on Garret and the band. It was a lovely experience! The show proved to be a striking mix of nostalgia, musical evolution, and a true ethereal spectacle. With a sold-out crowd and an atmosphere full of love and excitement, the band delivered the pop-anthem glory of Dopamine beautifully! The earnestness of the set was undeniable. Garrett took pride in the fact that every sound was produced organically, and shouted out his incredible touring band.
They closed out with fan favorites Past Lives and Electric Love! As he waved goodbye at the end, the crowd reached for him and cheered, and they stuck around to take photos and snag a setlist. I was so delighted and grateful that I got to experience this show, and I would highly recommend checking them out! Here’s to 10 years of Dopamine, one of the greatest alternative pop albums of the decade!