moondaddy - “Passenger"

San Diego dream-pop mainstay moondaddy — the solo project of singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Cara Potiker — is already wasting no time setting the tone for 2026. Last year’s sophomore LP Dove Tapes was a quietly stunning statement: a hazy swirl of glistening guitars, gauzy synths, and dulcet vocals that traced breakups, fractured friendships, and the weight of a turbulent world - all while gently exploring the possibility of finding light in the darkness.

Now Potiker returns with “Passenger,” a haunting, slow-burning ballad that leans into moondaddy’s most intimate instincts. Built on fuzzy, Americana-twanged guitar lines and wrapped in celestial synth textures, the track feels both expansive and close-up — like a late-night confession whispered through reverb. Potiker’s smoldering vocal performance anchors the song, inhabiting the role of the “passenger” with a sense of longing and emotional surrender. As the refrain “I wanna stay with you tonight” repeats, it lands less like a plea and more like a cathartic release, lingering long after the song fades out.

“Passenger” is a beautiful continuation of moondaddy’s world — restrained, romantic, and quietly devastating in the best way. You can catch moondaddy live on 1/29 at Casbah opening for The Album Leaf. Grab tickets HERE, and give “Passenger” a spin below.