A Brooklyn-based piano player, Sam Rappaport decided to start his solo career this year. Rappaport co-fronts the indie-rock band Gooseberry, whose blend of indie rock and blues has helped them make a name of their own in New York. Rappaport‘s solo stuff is a completely different proposition, though. There is no indie rock slacking here. His songs are focused and to the point, the no-frills instrumentation clean and precise.

Earlier this year, Rappaport released “Till the Morning Comes”, a piano-led ballad reminiscent of Norah Jones or Tori Amos. It hasn’t taken him long to do a 180. With his new single “Journeyman’s Ballet”, the artist channels the smooth, light tones of yacht rock, placing an emphasis on groovy basslines without neglecting a sense of melody. Following a traveler’s descent into isolation, it’s a song that could have been recorded in the 1970s and kept sealed off till now. To take over production duties, Sam Rappaport recruited Daniel Álvarez and Jordan Dunn-Pilz from the band TOLEDO, who specialise in the sort of laid-back pop that “Journeyman’s Ballet” is tapping into. Keep sailing the yacht rock boat, Rappaport!

Brooklyn’s indie folk duo TOLEDO (Daniel Alvarez + Jordan Dunn-Pilz) are readying the release of their new EP with a new single, “Sunday Funday,” which digs deep into the complexity of human relationships. Dealing with alcoholism in a family, and the discomfort that comes with navigating around it, the song approaches the matter with empathy and benevolence. Watch the accompanying DIY video below and stream the track via Spotify.

TOLEDO – the sadboy duo who have been churning out routinely wispy, beautiful, guitar-laden tracks – are back with another single off their upcoming Jockeys Of Love EP. Despite what their band name may suggest, the two members, Daniel Alvarez and Jordan Dunn-Pilz, hail from Brooklyn, NY by way of Newburyport, MA. The pair are proud childhood friends, and this life-spanning connection shines through with the homey, familiar quality of their tracks. Single “Dog Has Its Day” is a freewheeling and forlorn peek into their forthcoming EP, which the band describes as “a perfect balance of light and dark; its lyrics cover heavier matters like relationship issues, anxiety, depression, and alcoholism, while the music retains a sense of better days just around the corner.” A folky take on the quintessential breakup album, Jockeys Of Love promises to be a thoughtful snapshot of well-intentioned heartbreak.

True to their word, TOLEDO‘s “Dog Has Its Day” certainly features dark lyrics placed against relaxed music. The track begins with the sound of a door closing, as a soft voice sings, “I just called to say I can’t / Stand losing out on you. / Wrap my head around a plan / Count down the things I lose. / ‘Cause I don’t want to share. / I don’t want to share.” In the next verse, the meaning of the last lines morph, “I don’t want to care / I don’t want to care about you.” While these words drip with regret and longing, the instrumentals are carefree and light. The weighty vocals contain the steady control of greats like Sam Beam or Sufjan Stevens. Paired with artful guitars and bright choral additions, this release was made for road trip listening, an apt soundtrack for watching the countryside crawl by on an overdue visit home. There is trepidation, but also an undeniable hum of hope packed into this track.

In a statement, TOLEDO explained the meaning of the song, “‘Dog Has Its Day’ is about the lull after the initial chaos of a breakup. It’s about the time where you play detective, trying to piece together exactly what it is that brought you here.” “Dog Has Its Day” is a study in lackadaisical loneliness, and their upcoming release, which was co-produced and mixed by Jorge Elbrecht, promises to be an EP that portrays the sad understanding most people experience at the end of a meaningful yet failed relationship. Sadness aside, “Dog Has Its Day” is a veritable earworm ready for replay. Take the track for a walk at the link below.