Riffs on Riffs is about the thrill of musical discovery — that tingle down your spine when a perfect melody kicks in. Every chart-topper is a sonic time capsule. We'll crack it open, trace its history, decode those cryptic lyrics, and unearth the hidden gems in its musical DNA. Hosts Joe and Toby are back as your audio archaeologists, digging up the stories behind the songs. But here's where it gets fun. From those melodies, we riff. Wild tangents, pop culture connections, personal stories,…
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Prepare for an intergalactic funk transmission as Joe and Toby explore “Fabiano” by Quebec duo Angine de Poitrine. Armed with masks, polka dots, microtonal guitars, dizzying rhythms, and enough looping pedals to frighten a Guitar Hero champion, these two musicians create a sound that is equal parts math rock, funk, jazz, and delightful absurdity. But the riffs quickly launch a much bigger…
What are you willing to die on a hill for? For rising British singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro, the question becomes a haunting exploration of loyalty, stubbornness, and the moment you realize you may be fighting for someone who would never fight for you. In this episode, Joe and Toby dig into Spiro’s breathtaking single “Die on This Hill,” from its stripped-back piano opening and sweeping string…
Joe and Toby dive into Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drop Dead,” unpacking the emotional precision, lyrical sharpness, and intimate vocal delivery that make her music feel like an inner monologue. The conversation explores how Rodrigo’s songwriting connects across generations, pulling younger listeners into the immediacy of heartbreak while transporting older listeners back to their own formative…
This week on Riffs on Riffs, we tackle one of the most polarizing artists of the modern era: Drake, his track “Janice STFU,” and the massive cultural machine surrounding the release of Iceman. Alonog the way, Toby and Joe discuss celebrity, marketing, authenticity, attention spans, social media, AI, and whether modern culture has become addicted to constant stimulation. We break down Drake’s…
This week on Riffs on Riffs, we dive into “Fallin” by Chris Brown featuring Leon Thomas, and what starts as a conversation about one song quickly turns into a full-blown exploration of modern R&B, blues revivalism, AI music culture, performance authenticity, and why pain sometimes translates into great art. We unpack the cinematic weight of the song and its visual parallels to Sinners, asking…
In this episode of Riffs on Riffs, we unpack “Folded” by Kehlani—a song that’s equal parts breakup, late-night temptation, and emotional tug-of-war. Inspired by a shoutout from Olivia Dean, we dive into why this track has resonated so widely—and why it might not be as straightforward as it sounds. Along the way, we trace Kehlani’s journey from a turbulent childhood and early industry struggles to…
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…
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…
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…