Raised on the shores of the Atlantic and the back roads of Minnesota’s lake country, Ambient Toad is the band you’ve been waiting for. At the heart of the project is lead singer/pianist Taylor Benson and lyricist/bassist Madeline Benson, who met while studying at Berklee College of Music. Like Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Taylor and Maddie write all of their music together. Rounding out the full Ambient Toad arrangement is gospel drummer Prince J, progressive rock guitarist Will Suit, and bassist Jared Sorensen, who alternates shows with Maddie. In just one year’s time, Ambient Toad went from showcasing new songs at weekly open mic performances to selling out their first-ever headlining show, quickly establishing themselves as a band to watch in the Minneapolis folk and rock scenes.

Rather than breaking themselves to fit the algorithm-driven mold of the modern music industry, Ambient Toad leans further into everything that made them fall in love with music in the first place. Their skillful yet devastating songwriting pairs romantic piano riffs and striking hooks with the tenderness, earnestness, and clarity of the best soft rock of the 70s and 90s. The result sounds like coming home to a long-lost friend.

FFO: Billy Joel, Ben Folds Five, Keane, The Fray