The Only Ones

La Dante

La Dante is the musical creation of Philadelphia based artist Maxwell Perla. Pairing desert singer-songwriter soul with a dusting of lush 1980s synthesizers, La Dante is pioneering a sound of his own. Perla released his debut single “Mexico Sunrise” in 2018, establishing a signature sound described by Post to Wire as having a “smooth soul streak with a country sway and sun kissed vibe.” “The Only Ones” features a tough backbeat, soulful guitar work, and vintage synthesizers meant to evoke the sensation of riding through the streets of Rome on your vespa circa 1969. Perla takes on a world weary tone, displaying ambivalence towards a glamorous lifestyle, or “the sweet life.” By the time the chorus drops all he can do is lament that “We could be the only ones” if not for the temptations of desire, fame and greed. “The Only Ones” is the second single being released on La Dante’s own record label and production company Eraserhood Sound. The songs embody what La Dante and EHS have dubbed Synth & Soul, a sound founded on funky rhythms, silky synthesizers, and evocatively narrative songwriting. After spending the past decade manning the drums for various funk and dance bands throughout Philadelphia and New York City, Perla is finally laying backbeats to fully realize his own moonlit open highway vision.

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