Riffs on Riffs

In this episode of Riffs on Riffs, Joe and Toby dig into “If You Don’t Want My Love” by Jalen Ngonda — a track that feels equal parts vintage and urgent. From the moment the needle drops (figuratively speaking), the conversation moves beyond the song itself and into something deeper: love, longing, and what we do when connection isn’t returned. Along the way, they unpack Ngonda’s origin story—from...

Happy hour meets high art in this episode of  Riffs , as Joe and Toby crack open a drink—and Harry Styles’ latest single,  “Aperture.”  What starts as a laid-back catch-up quickly unfolds into a thoughtful exploration of artistry, vulnerability, and what it really means to “let the light in.” The guys dig into Harry’s evolution from boy band phenom to genre-defying artist, unpacking how  Aperture...

Happy hour meets high art in this episode of Riffs, as Joe and Toby crack open a drink—and Harry Styles’ latest single, “Aperture.” What starts as a laid-back catch-up quickly unfolds into a thoughtful exploration of artistry, vulnerability, and what it really means to “let the light in.” The guys dig into Harry’s evolution from boy band phenom to genre-defying artist, unpacking how Aperture refle...

In this episode of  Riffs on Riffs , Joe and Toby dive into Megan Moroney’s breakout hit  “Tennessee Orange.”  What begins as a conversation about Moroney’s songwriting quickly expands into a lively discussion about modern country music, storytelling, and the formula behind hit songs. Joe and Toby explore the clever narrative hook at the center of “Tennessee Orange.” The song opens with a line tha...

In this episode of Riffs on Riffs, Joe and Toby dive into Megan Moroney’s breakout hit “Tennessee Orange.” What begins as a conversation about Moroney’s songwriting quickly expands into a lively discussion about modern country music, storytelling, and the formula behind hit songs. Joe and Toby explore the clever narrative hook at the center of “Tennessee Orange.” The song opens with a line that fe...

On this episode of  Riffs on Riffs , Joe and Toby tumble headfirst into the dreamy deep end with  “No One Noticed” by The Marías , a song that doesn’t so much  start  as it  appears , like fog rolling under a streetlamp. After a very calm, very normal intro that absolutely does not get hijacked immediately (😅), the guys unpack why this track hits with such quiet force: it’s simple on paper, hypno...

On this episode of Riffs on Riffs, Joe and Toby tumble headfirst into the dreamy deep end with “No One Noticed” by The Marías, a song that doesn’t so much start as it appears, like fog rolling under a streetlamp. After a very calm, very normal intro that absolutely does not get hijacked immediately (😅), the guys unpack why this track hits with such quiet force: it’s simple on paper, hypnotic in p...

Can you really go back to being “just friends”? In this episode Joe and Toby dig into “Back to Friends” by rising artist sombr , unpacking why this deceptively simple breakup song hits such a deep nerve. What starts as a discussion about a chart-climbing track quickly becomes a wide-ranging conversation about relationships, emotional maturity, artistic process, and the strange pressures of blowing...

Can you really go back to being “just friends”? In this episode Joe and Toby dig into “Back to Friends” by rising artist sombr, unpacking why this deceptively simple breakup song hits such a deep nerve. What starts as a discussion about a chart-climbing track quickly becomes a wide-ranging conversation about relationships, emotional maturity, artistic process, and the strange pressures of blowing...

In this episode of Riffs on Riffs, Joe and Toby unpack Ella Langley’s breakout country single “Choosin' Texas” and use it as a launchpad for a wide-ranging conversation about authenticity, songwriting, and what it means to grow up musically without losing your soul. What starts as a joke about surprise Midwest snowfall quickly turns into a thoughtful exploration of why this song feels different fr...

In this episode of Riffs on Riffs, Joe and Toby unpack Ella Langley’s breakout country single “Choosin' Texas” and use it as a launchpad for a wide-ranging conversation about authenticity, songwriting, and what it means to grow up musically without losing your soul. What starts as a joke about surprise Midwest snowfall quickly turns into a thoughtful exploration of why this song feels different fr...

Joe and Toby clock in just ahead of game time to break down “All the Way” by BigXThaPlug, a country-rap crossover featuring Bailey Zimmerman. What starts as a quick review turns into a wide-ranging riff on genre blending, formulaic pop music, and where authenticity still lives in an increasingly algorithm-driven soundscape. Both hosts land in the same place with different routes: the song is fine,...

Joe and Toby clock in just ahead of game time to break down “All the Way” by BigXThaPlug, a country-rap crossover featuring Bailey Zimmerman. What starts as a quick review turns into a wide-ranging riff on genre blending, formulaic pop music, and where authenticity still lives in an increasingly algorithm-driven soundscape. Both hosts land in the same place with different routes: the song is fine,...

In this episode of  Riffs on Riffs , Joe and Toby take a deep, joyful, and thoughtful journey into  “Baile Inolvidable” , a song that feels like a dance remembered long after the music stops. What begins as a discussion of Bad Bunny’s latest single quickly unfolds into a rich conversation about salsa, nostalgia, cultural memory, and what it means to honor your roots while still pushing art forward...

In this episode of Riffs on Riffs, Joe and Toby take a deep, joyful, and thoughtful journey into “Baile Inolvidable”, a song that feels like a dance remembered long after the music stops. What begins as a discussion of Bad Bunny’s latest single quickly unfolds into a rich conversation about salsa, nostalgia, cultural memory, and what it means to honor your roots while still pushing art forward. We...

Welcome back to Riffs on Riffs, where in this episode Joe and Toby break down Amber Mark’s “Sweet Serotonin,” a track off her latest album Pretty Ideas, and explore why she’s becoming one of the most compelling voices in modern pop, R&B, and genre-bending artistry. They dive into Amber’s global background—Jamaican roots, German family, years spent in Berlin, India, Miami, and New York—and how...

Welcome back to Riffs on Riffs, where in this episode Joe and Toby break down Amber Mark’s “Sweet Serotonin,” a track off her latest album Pretty Ideas, and explore why she’s becoming one of the most compelling voices in modern pop, R&B, and genre-bending artistry. They dive into Amber’s global background—Jamaican roots, German family, years spent in Berlin, India, Miami, and New York—and how that...

When Daniel Caesar quietly dropped his album "Son of Spergy", most of the world didn’t see it coming. In this episode Joe and Toby dive deep into Caesar’s lead single “Call On Me,” uncovering the soulful layers, hidden nuance, and emotional depth that make his music feel both intimate and transcendent. Per usual, the conversation starts with a laugh — Shakespeare references, hats, and Toby’s ongoi...

When Daniel Caesar quietly dropped his album "Son of Spergy", most of the world didn’t see it coming. In this episode Joe and Toby dive deep into Caesar’s lead single “Call On Me,” uncovering the soulful layers, hidden nuance, and emotional depth that make his music feel both intimate and transcendent. Per usual, the conversation starts with a laugh — Shakespeare references, hats, and Toby’s ongoi...

Sink your teeth into Tame Impala’s “Dracula” as Joe and Toby riff on the glittering, slightly dystopian pull of Kevin Parker’s synth-pop era. Is “Dracula” a shimmering cousin to “The Less I Know the Better”? Where do The Weeknd vibes and MJ/“Thriller” nods fit in? The duo debates lone-wolf studio genius vs. the power of collaboration, decode the video’s cult-ish unease, geek out on sounds (hello,...

Sink your teeth into Tame Impala’s “Dracula” as Joe and Toby riff on the glittering, slightly dystopian pull of Kevin Parker’s synth-pop era. Is “Dracula” a shimmering cousin to “The Less I Know the Better”? Where do The Weeknd vibes and MJ/“Thriller” nods fit in? The duo debates lone-wolf studio genius vs. the power of collaboration, decode the video’s cult-ish unease, geek out on sounds (hello,...

Slide into cozy Sunday-morning vibes with Joe and Toby as they dive into Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need” from her new album The Art of Loving . They unpack why this track is exploding right now, trace the album’s inspirations (bell hooks’ All About Love and a Mickalene Thomas installation), and explore the record’s intentional warmth — “fearless joy” delivered with classic, less-is-more production and...

Slide into cozy Sunday-morning vibes with Joe and Toby as they dive into Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need” from her new album The Art of Loving. They unpack why this track is exploding right now, trace the album’s inspirations (bell hooks’ All About Love and a Mickalene Thomas installation), and explore the record’s intentional warmth — “fearless joy” delivered with classic, less-is-more production and a...

Joe and Toby ladle up a hearty conversation about Remi Wolf’s track  “Soup”  from her 2024 release  Big Ideas . From funky basslines to chaotic brilliance, they break down how Remi’s stream-of-consciousness writing and fearless authenticity create songs that are equal parts journal entry and anthem. Along the way, Joe and Toby reflect on what it means to show up as your whole self—in music, in wor...

Joe and Toby ladle up a hearty conversation about Remi Wolf’s track “Soup” from her 2024 release Big Ideas. From funky basslines to chaotic brilliance, they break down how Remi’s stream-of-consciousness writing and fearless authenticity create songs that are equal parts journal entry and anthem. Along the way, Joe and Toby reflect on what it means to show up as your whole self—in music, in work, a...