MOONRIIVR RETURNS WITH FIRST NEW SINGLE SINCE THEIR 2023 DEBUT LP, VOLUME 1. “YOU GET ME BY” OUT NOW VIA VICTORY POOL RECORDS
BUY / STREAM “YOU GET ME BY” HERE
WATCH / SHARE “YOU GET ME BY” (LIVE PERFORMANCE VIDEO) HERE
Photo Credit : Heather Saitz // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
MOONRIIVR creates a sound that is both familiar and cosmic. Drawing on their connection to the past in the search for a new vibration. Today, the duo of Gavin Gardner and James Robertson, return with their first new music since the release of the 2023 debut album, Volume 1. Released via Victory Pool Records, for “You Get Me By” they were joined by the percussive genius of Lyle Molzan, Mike Ardagh, and Julian Psihogios as well as Jenni Roberts and Ben Whiteley on bass. The accomplished rhythm sections set the stage for Gardiner’s deft lyricism and haunting baritone while Robertson’s masterful guitar playing expands the mind with its trance-like searching. There’s a sense of restraint that congers the raw feelings of Richie Valens and Nancy Sinatra echoing off the hallowed walls of Capitol Studio B, while continuing to propel it into a new and bold era.
“You Get Me By” is “an attempt to hold up a mirror and offer the same empathy to myself that I would offer a friend navigating the challenges of self and identity,” says Gardner. “My mind creates boundaries for who I think others expect me to be, when hopefully they just want me to be free.”
BUY / STREAM “YOU GET ME BY” HERE
WATCH / SHARE “YOU GET ME BY” (LIVE PERFORMANCE VIDEO) HERE
Single Art // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
MORE ABOUT MOONRIIVR
Seated at one of five tables inside their beloved lunch spot in Toronto’s west end, James Robertson and Gavin Gardiner are beaming. Everyone here shares the look, it’s an “if you know you know” kind of spot, and everyone here knows. It’s this feeling, this culture, this heart-and-soul-of-our-city energy that MOONRIIVR has embraced since their formation in 2023.
The universe did not have to reach far to pull together the orbits of James Robinson and Gavin Gardiner, the core of what would become MOONRIIVR. Each has played an integral and vibrant role in the Toronto music scene for the past two decades, and their range of styles, community and skills have come together in an easy and tape-echo filled fit.
Gardiner’s background in vintage and analogue recording paired with James Robertson’s passion for instruments of the same era come together to define MOONRIIVR’s sound. Gavin Gardiner, of JUNO Award and Polaris Music Prize nominated indie-folk outfit The Wooden Sky and established audio engineer at All Day Coconut (Georgia Harmer, Fiver, Dan Mangan, Jason Collet), was a quick match for Robertson, whose musical collaborations with Lindi Ortega and Dwayne Gretzky have redefined the sound of the Canadian music scene.
The 2023 release of their debut album, MOONRIIVR - Volume 1 quickly garnered critical acclaim and put the band on stages across Canada, the UK and Europe. Rolling Stone Magazine saying it’s “as if Buddy Holly and Chris Isaak made a record with Damien Jurado”
Unable to contain the vision found in their collaboration, MOONRIIVR has expanded their work as a production duo. Digging in and exploring new sonic territory with artists like Peter Dreams (July Talk), Reuben Bullock (Rebun and the Dark), Brandon Wolfe Scott (Yukon Blonde) and Tom Wilson (Junkhouse, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings).
TOUR DATES
Nov 29 - Toronto, ON - Wavelength Music Series
Dec 2 - München, DE *
Dec 3 - Vienna, AT *
Dec 4 - Graz, AT *
Dec 6 - Münster, DE *
Dec 8 - Berlin, DE *
Dec 9 - Hamburg, DE *
Dec 10 - Köln, DE
Feb 5 & 6 - Calgary, AB - Block Heater
Feb 7 - Prince George, BC - Coldsnap
* with Rural Alberta Advantage