La Fonda – “Midnight Muse”

Sister-songwriters Veronica and Valerie Topacio founded La Fonda to explore love, longing, and loss in song. But it’s with Jesse Cole on guitar, Bryan Dever on bass, Patrick Hodge on keys, and Jacob Whinihan on percussion that they truly bring “Midnight Muse” to life.

This standout track from the recently released EP New Self Old Ways explores letting love go with the hope that fate and proximity draw them back together again. There’s sadness, hope, fear, and nostalgia woven into each note and lyric.

“So, I watched you grow on the road you know.” At once both a happy and sad reflection, the bittersweet tones mirror the guitar’s own two minds. Jesse mixes slight levels of feedback to grind into the tonality but sweetens the timbre with harmonics and bright chords with Patrick’s keys. Combined with Jacob’s wet cymbals, the dreamscape emerges as Veronica and Valerie entangle their lines with tight vocal harmonies.

Whether it’s the sleepy opening or the kick of energy at 1:16, the disbelief, yearning, and even acceptance connect through languid drums grounding you in this surrealistic reflection La Fonda have created.

Stream “Midnight Muse” below.

Ben McCoy

Ben is an advertising Madman who spends his days with words and music. When he’s not writing for his supper, he’s eating it at some of NYC’s most interesting restaurants.