As a band, Wild Rivers have never been better. This goes double for the band as individuals, even as they settle in different cities and grow into themselves as adults. Together since college, Devan Glover [vocals], Khalid Yassein [guitar, vocals, keys], and Andrew Oliver [lead guitar] have put down roots in new places and tackled coming-of-age obstacles. After nine years together, they’ve always found their way back to each other, rather like a marriage. And that’s why their new, forthcoming album, the follow-up to 2022’s folk-rock triumph Sidelines, will be called Never Better.


An earnest, soul-baring look at where they’ve been and where they’re going, Never Better (co-produced with Gabe Wax, who has previously worked with The War On Drugs, Soccer Mommy, Adrianne Lenker, and Jeremy Zucker) showcases Wild Rivers’ joy around being together, particularly after they’ve faced burnout, mental health challenges, and extended periods away from home, among other things. “Being in music is like a deal with the devil,” Khalid says of band life. “You have to give up so much, but you have the opportunity to have the richest experiences of your life. You have to ride the wave and not put too much weight on the highs or the lows. It took us a long time to learn, but that’s a real mindset shift for us.”


Recording in Joshua Tree, Devan, Khalid, and Andrew initially set out to just unplug, reconnect, and rediscover the beauty in creating. Soon, they realized they potentially had a new record on their hands—the results of which appear on Never Better, an album that finds Wild Rivers letting go of their studio-perfectionist tendencies and capturing the energy of their uninhibited live shows. “We used to think it was important to be precious,” says Devan. “I used to take five hours to record a vocal and not be happy until it was perfect. Now I think we're more instinct-driven. I realize now that it’s  actually much more of a skill to be able to do four takes and be like, ‘that's the one,’ because the feeling is there, even if it isn't technically perfect.”


For Never Better, Wild Rivers reimagined their studio process, recording a number of elements live off the floor. “We actively wanted to have a lot more fun making this record,” Andrew adds of recording as a live band. “It's way more enjoyable to record songs all together and be able to see each other laughing and reacting to moments, rather than slowly building it up one little thing at a time where someone goes into a room by themselves. We wanted to maintain that connection the whole time.” 


As they look to the future, Wild Rivers are placing a new emphasis on finding balance and taking care of themselves on the road. Devan says. “We’ve gone through really difficult times, mentally, and the strain of being on tour can take a toll. Mental health has always been top of mind for us, and we want to find that balance for ourselves and help other people with the issues that we're struggling with."


Wild Rivers’ effortless synchronicity shines through on the gorgeously harmonized anthem “Everywhere I Go,” which builds from a piano-based jog to a full-fledged sprint with propulsive drums and shimmering keys. "I was thinking about my grandpa, who I was very close to. He passed away a few years ago,” Khalid says. “He was the only other musical person in my family. We used to sit at the piano and play together. He was one of the funniest people I've ever met. I was thinking about how something benign can remind you of someone who's gone and how it can elicit a powerful emotion. It’s the positive feeling of holding on to a memory of something that's inherently sad but beautiful and uplifting.”


Elsewhere, on the swaying “Cave”—pieced together in Nashville and London —Wild Rivers sing wanting something regardless of consequence. “It’s about caving to temptation,” Andrew says. “The temptation being something you know might not be the right thing, but you’re down to just give into it.”


Similarly, the bright and cheery title track gives itself over to the thrill—and risk—of romance. "We have so many breakup songs—so many heartache, pouring-our-souls-out songs," Khalid says. "We are in our 20s, we've had fun experiences and made mistakes in life. The concept of the song is when you're in a messed-up, secret hookup situation. And someone asks 'How's it going with this person?' And you say, 'Never better.' It's a tongue-in-cheek reference to romantic chaos and throwing caution to the wind."


Finally, of the earnest piano ballad “Backfire,” Devan says, “The demo I made was piano and vocals, and the band had the idea to make it more crunchy guitar, lean slightly more '90s, which I never imagined when writing it. It's more story-based. It's more of a build. It felt like what we have done best up until this point. It feels like a bridge from what we've been doing to the new era.”


Khalid adds, “As soon as I heard ‘Backfire,’ I was like, ‘Oh, this is completely Devan as a person. I just believed every moment of it. Vocally, you can hear that. We were all moved by that. It's one of our favorites of the record. It’s really emotional, really unabashed.”


Just as Wild Rivers move from one exciting stage of their career to the next, they are very much still figuring out what it means to grow together. Their journey, filled with peaks, valleys, and everything in between, has never been more beautiful to witness.

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This is the official SoundCloud for the legendary Jamaican reggae artist Buju Banton. Follow and stay tuned in for the latest and greatest releases from Buju!

New album "The Ballad of Dood & Juanita" out digitally & on CD August 20th & on vinyl December 3rd. Pre-order and pre-save here: https://orcd.co/doodandjuanita

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Born and raised in Tyler, Texas, Chance Peña is a 22 year old singer/songwriter and producer. Making music from an early age, he has cultivated a unique style of traditional storytelling infused with modern musical influences. He began working with Secret Road Music Publishing as a songwriter at just 17 years old and saw immediate success. Peña continues to cultivate his artistry by writing, producing, engineering and performing his own songs.
 
In early 2019, Peña's dream-chaser ballad, "Up, Up & Away" moved into the spotlight thanks to a placement in the highly acclaimed heartfelt drama, Five Feet Apart. Later that year, Chance released his debut EP, “anxiety & mixed emotions” on September 27th, 2019 which chronicled the personal trials and events that transpired over the course of his waning time in his home town of Tyler, Texas as he prepped for a move to Los Angeles the following year. Entering 2020, Peña secured his first major label cut and later his first Grammy nod with John Legend’s “Conversations in the Dark”, the lead single off his Grammy winning album, “Bigger Love”, having co-written the song several months prior.
 
He has since released an EP titled “The Inevitable” pandering at the idea of life’s inevitabilities, and several singles with friends and collaborators while writing and producing for other artists and projects.

For inquiries and booking information, contact chancepenamusic@gmail.com.

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