MOONRIIVR – “FORCE OF HABIT”
VICTORY POOL
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. Equal parts nostalgic and explosive, the track traces a path from loss and desperation toward release, building into a cathartic, noise-driven finale that refuses to look back. It’s the second single to be shared from their forthcoming album, MOONRIIVR Vol. 2, out later this year, and follows November 2025’s “You Get Me By.”
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.
MOONRIIVR is the collaborative project of James Robertson and Gavin Gardiner, two longtime contributors to the Toronto music community whose shared affinity for vintage sound and analog recording defines the band’s sonic identity.
Gardiner, a member of JUNO Award and Polaris Music Prize-nominated indie-folk group The Wooden Sky and an established engineer at All Day Coconut, brings a deep understanding of texture and space. Robertson, known for his work with Dwayne Gretzky & Tom Wilson, Washington Post named “an orchestra unto himself” complements that foundation with a passion for era-specific instrumentation and melodic structure.
Their 2023 debut, MOONRIIVR Vol. 1, earned critical acclaim and international attention, with Rolling Stone describing it as “as if Buddy Holly and Chris Isaak made a record with Damien Jurado.” Since then, the duo has expanded their work as producers, collaborating with artists Peter Dreams (July Talk), Brandon Wolfe Scott (Yukon Blonde) and Reuben Bullock (Reuben & the Dark) and many others across Canada while continuing to refine their own evolving sound.
Blending past and present, MOONRIIVR creates music that feels both familiar and otherworldly, rooted in tradition but constantly reaching forward. “Force of Habit” offers a compelling glimpse into the next phase of their journey.
ARTIST QUOTE
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.
MOONRIIVR
[Single]
(Victory Pool)
Release Date: May 1, 2026
Artist Links
SPILL NEW MUSIC: GRIMSKUNK – “UNITED & STRONG” / “NICE DICE”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: PICKLE JUICE – “HALFWAY”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: ANDREW SPICE – “UNAFRAID”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: LIBBY EMBER – “NEWS AT THE PARTY”
