Canadian artist Riverie, is unveiling her glorious debut EP, ‘Faded Empire’, marking an exciting new chapter in her evolving musical journey. Following the release of her debut single ‘The Ugly and The Beautiful’, the four-track collection sees Riverie explore a richly atmospheric soundscape, blending hypnotic vocals, haunting electronics and dreamlike instrumentation into an ambitious introduction to her latest project.
Co-written and produced alongside Andy Barlow of LAMB, ‘Faded Empire’ features the previously unreleased tracks ‘Not At The Same Time’, ‘Give It All Away’ and its title track, alongside the previously released ‘The Ugly and The Beautiful’. Across its four compositions, the EP moves effortlessly between dreamy, understated arrangements and darker, more expansive electronic textures, with Riverie’s distinctive vocal presence providing a captivating thread throughout.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the release, Riverie explains:
“It was March, and there was a lot happening in the world that had me worried and fearful of things unraveling in front of me. I needed a cocoon, somewhere I could disappear to. I had met Andy Barlow of LAMB through his In Flow music retreats, and working in that collaborative, nonjudgmental space opened up new dimensions in how I sing and write. A few weeks later, I took the plunge and camped out in a house ten minutes’ walk from his place in a small village in Goa, steps from some of the most stunning beach sunsets I’ve seen. The Ugly and the Beautiful, the first single from Faded Empire, was a song I’d written before and brought to Andy. It was a sweet, dreamy start to our collaboration.”
That sense of escapism and creative freedom runs throughout the EP. ‘Not At The Same Time’ is a dreamy, laid-back affair, built around hypnotic vocals, reverberating guitars and stripped-back percussion. Its atmospheric, slow-burning arrangement carries echoes of Chris Isaak’s ‘Wicked Game’, drawing the listener into an intimate and immersive soundscape. By contrast, ‘Faded Empire’ introduces arpeggiated synths and pulsing rhythms, embracing a darker, more haunting sonic palette without sacrificing the project’s dreamlike qualities.
Closing the collection, ‘Give It All Away’ brings another dimension to Riverie’s evolving sound. Electronic drum machines and ethereal pads create a spectral atmosphere, while persistent, driving percussion adds momentum and intensity. Together, the four tracks form a cohesive body of work that balances vulnerability with experimentation, held together by Riverie’s unmistakable, spacey vocal delivery.
Riverie is the latest trip-hop project from Canadian artist Caroline Fernandez. Having previously established herself as a founding member of River Below Rivers and through her house music project Paper Kid, Fernandez now embarks on what feels like her most ambitious creative chapter to date. Drawing inspiration from the likes of FKA Twigs, LAMB and Portishead, Riverie’s sound embraces the atmospheric qualities of trip-hop while pushing beyond its traditional boundaries.
Interestingly, despite the genre’s deep-rooted association with Bristol, the birthplace of trip-hop, Riverie’s origins lie much further afield. Conceived between Goa and the UAE, where Fernandez resides, the project brings together the influences of its surroundings with the artist’s experiences across previous musical ventures.
With ‘Faded Empire’, Riverie establishes a striking creative vision, inviting listeners into a world shaped by introspection, escapism and the beauty found somewhere between light and darkness.
