MOONRIIVR SHARES FIRST NEW MUSIC OF 2026
“FORCE OF HABIT” OUT TODAY VIA VICTORY POOL RECORDS
BUY / STREAM “FORCE OF HABIT” HERE
LISTEN / SHARE “FORCE OF HABIT” HERE
Photo Credit : David Leyes // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
Toronto-based duo MOONRIIVR return with “Force of Habit”, an upbeat yet emotionally charged indie rock single that blends 60s-inspired kraut rock textures with surf and indie sensibilities. Following previous single, “You Get Me By”, the new track from Gavin Gardner and James Robertson is equal parts nostalgic and explosive, tracing a path from loss and desperation toward release, building into a cathartic, noise-driven finale that refuses to look back.
At its core, “Force of Habit” is “about letting go of the past and searching for a new way forward,” the band explains. That emotional arc drives the song’s momentum. What begins as reflective and restrained gradually unravels into beautiful, noisy chaos.
What sets the track apart is its tension between mood and movement. While the instrumentation leans bright and energetic, drawing from vintage rock and surf influences, the emotional undercurrent remains heavy. That push-and-pull gives the song its distinct character, capturing the feeling of being caught between holding on and letting go.
As “Force of Habit” progresses, that tension reaches a breaking point. Layers begin to collapse into a flurry of distortion and movement, mirroring the internal chaos that comes with change. The result feels both controlled and unpredictable, rooted in classic songwriting but unafraid to unravel.
BUY / STREAM “FORCE OF HABIT” HERE
LISTEN / SHARE “FORCE OF HABIT” 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.
BUY / STREAM “YOU GET ME BY” HERE
WATCH / SHARE “YOU GET ME BY” (LIVE PERFORMANCE VIDEO) HERE
LISTEN / SHARE “YOU GET ME BY” HERE
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).
PERFORMANCE DATES
May 21 - Toronto ON - The Belle and Beacon
August 15th - Ear Falls ON - Trout Forest Festival