Toro Canyon is a duo made up of multi-instrumentalists Grady Baker and Carson Viglione. Friends since childhood, the two shared many musical influences and life experiences while growing up in Austin that have shaped their sound.
After finishing college and returning to Austin, the high school band reassembled in 2014 as Toro Canyon to record their debut EP, The Deep End. Many of the songs from their first EP were written in Grady’s dorm room while studying in Atlanta.
Their 2020 sophomore EP, titled Last I Saw You, combines upbeat alternative rock alongside ambient, synth-based elements and driving guitar solos. Recorded in Grady’s childhood home, the introspective EP draws on lyrical themes of nostalgia, loss, and moving forward.
Early in the pandemic, Grady was virtually introduced to Mary Añez. After listening to and immediately falling in love with Mary’s single, “Fall,” a collaboration began by Grady sharing musical ideas with Mary that he thought would best suit her voice. Meeting regularly over video calls to bounce ideas off of one another, the two finally met in person to record what would become the single, “Something,” off of their latest 2023 EP, Silence.
While traveling across the country, Grady stopped in San Diego where singer (and former Olympian), Laura Brock recorded an intimate lead vocal and lush harmonies on the title track, Silence. Their newest EP is heavily instrumental and incorporates more electronic elements than their previous projects while still maintaining Toro Canyon’s dreamy sound.
The two plan to continue collaborating with other artists and friends on future projects as their sound continues to evolve.