“Challenger” enjoys a mellow aesthetic steeped in folk and rock — set well alongside lyrics reflecting the beauty of creating and admiring art. The track is another success from TOLEDO, the Brooklyn-based duo who impressed with previous tracks like “Hesperus” and “Bath.” A contemplative success, “Challenger” represents the first single from the band’s upcoming sophomore EP, Jockeys Of Love. Ascendance of organ around 02:30 kickstarts a lovely melodic rise, capping the track off on a memorably hooky note. Preceding, the track flows with melodic charm throughout — catching with a variety of aspects, from the dreamy “la-la” backing vocal touch to the caressing guitar swaying.
The band elaborate more on the EP below:
“The entirety of the Jockeys of Love EP was written and tracked while we quarantined in Newburyport, MA. We had by and large the most productive three months of our lives, collecting unemployment and using the time we had to create music. For the first time, we were seemingly being paid to do what we loved. This song was written on the day the FPUC funds ran out. Challenger is about holding something precious in your hands (in this case, the freedom to create), and knowing that it can be taken away at any moment. All of the songs that came out of this time pose the questions: What do you fight for? What are you fighting against?”
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“Challenger” and other memorable tracks from this month can also be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of October 2020’ Spotify playlist.
