Dolo Tonight Announces Debut Concept Album ‘DVD Rental Store’ Out October 3 via Epitaph Records
On a mission to bring fun back into music, the LA-by-way-of-New-Jersey artist, Dolo Tonight (born Jonah Rindner) is defining his own brand of “awkward anti-pop” with his debut album ‘DVD Rental Store’ out on October 3rd via Epitaph Records. Expertly blending nostalgia with humor, the record is packed with bold anthems and buoyant chords produced by JUNO Award-winning, multi-Platinum producer Ryan Spraker (Weezer, Arkells).
Today Dolo shares lead single “Live Your Life”, an upbeat romp about breaking free from expectations and building a life on your own terms. Co-directed by Dolo himself alongside Kalik Osborne, check out the colorful, action-packed VHS style music video below.
“Live Your Life”
Written during an out-of-body experience caused by nostalgia, Benadryl, and five Sour Patch Kids, Dolo explains, “ “Live Your Life” is basically me yelling at everyone to stop doomscrolling and do something stupid or beautiful instead. I made this song because my therapist said I need to stop bottling things up, so I said “bet” and dropped a single. I wanted it to feel like a motivational speech given by someone who just fell off a Lime scooter.”
On DVD Rental Store Dolo knows exactly who he’s making music for: the weirdos, the outcasts, and anyone who’s ever felt like an awkward outsider. With the help of producer Ryan Spraker, he learned to let go of genre and perfectionism in the studio and embrace his full creative spirit. Drawing influences from indie pop greats like Phoenix and Passion Pit, his infectious choruses and playful lyrics (about everything from crocheting animal sweaters to drunken cake runs at Wawa,) reflect his belief that music should be as fun and authentic as possible.
His debut album draws inspiration from the nostalgia of the DVD rental store, an era before algorithms and endless scrolling led to a paralysis of choice. The expository opening track, a skit titled “DVD Rental Store Intro (908-224-4086)” sets the tone, with Dolo picking out an unmarked disc at his local video store. As the album progress, many tracks play out as vignettes of coming-of-age stories inspired by indie cult classics like Juno.
With millions of views across social media and comment sections consistently pleading for new music, the 27-year-old musician is determined to turn fans into friends by creating music that reflects his vibrant personality and eclectic, colorful style. His approach is “intentionally unintentional,” meaning he doesn’t build a persona around his artistry. Instead, his full eccentric self is reflected in his work. “I’m just a weird, fun dude. I love writing weird lyrics,” he says. “I just like saying weird sh*t.”
Following two EPs, several standalone singles, and millions of streams across platforms, DVD Rental Store marks a sonic evolution in Dolo Tonight’s music. “For the first time, a lot of my personality is coming through in these songs,” he muses. “More so than in the past.” While he wants fans to connect with his music in their own way, he does invite listeners to have a specific takeaway: “You’re allowed to have fun. Let yourself have fun!”