Byline: Rhiannon Frater
Dolo Tonight, born Jonah Elias Rindner in Watchung, New Jersey, has emerged as a distinctive figure in contemporary music, bridging multiple genres over the course of his career. Signed today to Epitaph Records, his sound reflects an evolution from early rap and alternative beginnings to a fully realized indie rock vision, with work that emphasizes narrative, conceptual storytelling, and playful lyricism.
Rindner’s entry into music began through rap. Growing up in New Jersey, he was drawn to lyricism and rhythm-driven expression, crafting songs that carried a humorous yet offbeat sensibility. His early projects leaned heavily on hip hop cadences, marked by eccentric narratives and experimental approaches to song structure. These formative releases established his reputation as a genre-fluid artist and led to his first major industry breakthrough.
During the pandemic, Rindner signed with Warner Music’s Asylum Records, marking his introduction into the major-label system. His releases from that period reflected the transitional stage between his rap roots and the more melodic direction he would later pursue. The Warner/Asylum phase emphasized his ability to build energy around unusual concepts and genre-bending delivery, but also underscored his restlessness with strict stylistic boundaries. That restlessness foreshadowed the artistic pivot that would follow.
The next phase of his career unfolded with Epitaph Records, a label with a history of fostering artists who thrive on experimentation. It was under Epitaph that Rindner, as Dolo Tonight, crystallized his identity within indie and alternative rock. His debut full-length album, DVD Rental Store, exemplified the shift. Rather than a conventional collection of songs, the album was structured as a concept project designed to feel cinematic in scope. It featured interludes, skits, and narrative callbacks that tied the songs together into a cohesive story world.
The record balanced accessible hooks with eccentric themes. Hotel on Your Heart showcased his approach to blending upbeat pop-rock energy with polished songwriting, while Two Pens offered a lighthearted take on friendship, built around playful and deliberately unconventional lyrics. This mix of seriousness and humor, narrative and melody, became the foundation of his new era, positioning DVD Rental Store as a statement of artistic reinvention.
The album was produced primarily by Ryan Spraker, with contributions from Roe Kapara and Jacob Gale. Sessions were held at Italian Boys LTD LLC and Lucy’s Meat Market studios, and the record was mastered by Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone, both veterans in shaping alternative and rock releases. Together, the team created a sound that merged indie rock instrumentation with pop sensibilities, supporting the album’s conceptual framework and reinforcing Dolo Tonight’s transition away from rap toward a hybridized rock identity.
Chart recognition soon followed. In 2025, his single Live Your Life entered the UK’s Official Singles Downloads Chart, giving him his first placement in a national chart outside the United States. The charting represented both a commercial milestone and a symbolic affirmation of his indie rock pivot, demonstrating that his shift in style resonated with audiences beyond his established base.
Dolo Tonight has extended this conceptual approach beyond the studio into his live performances. His shows are designed to echo the narrative qualities of his albums, combining high-energy sets with visual and structural choices that align with the cinematic feel of DVD Rental Store. This performance style underscores his commitment to music as immersive storytelling, not just as isolated songs.
Taken as a whole, his trajectory from Warner Music’s Asylum Records during the pandemic to chart recognition with Epitaph in 2025 highlights the fluidity of modern independent artists. Beginning in rap, experimenting through alternative sounds, and arriving at a unique vision of indie rock, Dolo Tonight reflects the increasing tendency of musicians to move across genres while maintaining a consistent artistic identity. His catalog emphasizes not only his stylistic adaptability but also his dedication to building narrative-driven, conceptual works that function as immersive artistic worlds.