Wild Rivers

Canadian combo Wild Rivers blend the sweet harmonies of singers Devan Glover and Khalid Yassein with a relaxed, earthy folk-rock tone that takes cues from both contemporary indie folk and classic acts of the early-’70s singer/songwriter era on releases like 2018’s Eighty-Eight and 2020′s Songs to Break Up To. The band’s sound became more layered on their second album, 2022′s Sidelines.
Based in Toronto, the band grew out of the creative partnership of Glover (vocals) and Yassein (vocals, guitar), who soon added lead guitarist Andrew Oliver and drummer Julien Laferriere to the mix. Under the Wild Rivers name, the quartet issued a self-titled album in 2016 that subsequently racked up millions of plays on major streaming platforms. Signed to the Nettwerk label, the group toured hard and issued their acclaimed 2018 EP Eighty-Eight, whose five tracks were recorded between Nashville and Ontario. Wild Rivers returned in 2020 with the EP Songs to Break Up To, which blended synths and effects into their palette. Following the departure of Laferriere, the band issued the 2021 single “Love Gone Wrong,” which continued the trend toward a more textured sound. Released in early 2022, Wild Rivers’ sophomore album, Sidelines, struck a deeply reflective tone with warm, lush production. ~ Timothy Monger