Long before fun. took over the world with the virtually inescapable summer anthem “We Are Young,” lead singer Nate Ruess was involved in another project called the Format with Sam Means. Having enjoyed success between 2001-2008, the band took an indefinite hiatus, leaving Ruess free to sing about Empire States and Means to pursue his own solo endeavor. The latter’s new single “We’re Alone” is taken from his upcoming album 10 Songs, and Format fans will find its sound pleasingly familiar. The piano-driven track surges with a heartfelt chorus: “We’re alone when the lights come on/ Take me down to the river.” It gleams with hints of rosy ’70s soft-rock but with deeper, more wistful lyrical undertones and subtle modern production flourishes.

Here’s what Means had to say about the track:

This song may not necessarily be the obvious first choice to kick off the new album, but I’ve never been a fan of playing it safe, I suppose. Disregarding all potentially less interesting back story within the lyrics; the core of it is really just about that overwhelming sense of insignificance that consumes you the first time you’re struck with a basic understanding of how truly infinite the universe is. Doubled, when you find out how little we know about it.

Listen below.

10 Songs will be released 1/22/16 via Hello Records.