88 Strings is intentionally arranged like the epitome of an ’80s love song. I wanted to capture the feeling of hearing a new Richard Marx or Air Supply track for the first time on the radio that you just knew—knew—was destined to be a number one. Since those types of songs, like 88 Strings itself, are often heavily piano driven, the title is referencing the 88 keys of a piano and the strings they strike to make the notes.

The above, though, makes it sound like the composition was intentional—which it very much was not. On a summer morning some time in July or August of 2011, I awoke from a dream where the bulk of the song had been conjured by my slumbering brain. I spent a day or two fine tuning what it had given me, and shortly thereafter, Molly and I began recording it.

So stretch out on the soft white sand, breathe in the salty air, sip your New Coke, then crank up the volume on your boombox and listen to the third track on Love & Latte while the sun sinks into the Pacific.