Dana and Alden honor family, travel and musical curiosity on Papa's Boat, a globe-spanning collection that blends jazz, indie, samba, bossa nova, rap and pop into one adventurous listen.
Dana and Alden have never seemed interested in staying in one musical lane, and Papa's Boat continues that adventurous streak. The sibling duo's latest album is both a tribute and a travelogue, inspired by the life of their late grandfather, whose curiosity about the world became the blueprint for a record that refuses to stand still. It's a deeply personal project, but one that invites listeners along for the ride.
Named after the affectionate nickname they had for their grandfather, Papa's Boat was recorded in London, New York and Brazil, with each location leaving its own imprint on the music. Those changing surroundings seep naturally into the album, where samba, bossa nova, jazz, indie rock, rap and pop flow together without feeling forced. Rather than treating genres as boundaries, Dana and Alden use them as stops along the journey, creating songs that feel spontaneous, colorful and full of discovery.
That sense of exploration has been part of the duo from the very beginning. Growing up in Eugene, Oregon, Dana and Alden McWayne bonded over jazz sessions before forming a band together, building a sound around Dana's expressive saxophone playing and Alden's inventive drumming. While jazz remains the foundation, they've always pulled inspiration from wherever they found it, giving their music an openness that's become their signature.
Following the momentum of Speedo, which introduced the pair to a rapidly expanding audience through word-of-mouth and a growing TikTok following, Papa's Boat feels like another confident step forward. It honors family history while embracing new experiences, proving that the most memorable journeys often come from following curiosity wherever it leads.