#Hearitfirst: River just dropped off We'll Be Together, It's a Chef's Kiss
Emerging Swedish artist RIVER invites us to a staggering, chest-pounding affair in her latest single “We’ll Be Together” ft. Lute, out Friday, January 28th via EMI Sweden / Universal Music AB. Grounded by lush piano chords, the track is a sultry concoction of pop and R&B weaved with the breakneck choruses of American rapper Lute.
Dropping bittersweet bombs of truth, “We’ll Be Together” nestles us into a fervent romance where passion and destruction coexist in intimate symbiosis. RIVER’s silvery vocals, filled with warm gravitational soulfulness, mesmerize us as she channels the chemistry between two people who drive each other off the cliff of madness - yet they belong together. “Oh, you know that I love you / And that bitch can’t do it like I do” chants RIVER. The visceral soundscape is in sync with her unapologetic boldness as she swings between the extreme emotional ends of jealousy and desire that are found in fated fatal attractions.
Speaking of the new track, she shares: “I wanted to make a song that both tapped into the music of old-school soul that I grew up with mixed with the attitude of current hip-hop. To get Lute on the track helped me reach that vision and took it all to another level.”
The track is a preview of her upcoming debut EP, which will be arriving later this year. Bringing the classic swagger of 50s pin-up, RIVER is building her own oeuvre sprayed with a refreshing shade of soulful pop while experimenting with a diverse palette of genres including hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and more. “We’ll Be Together” is the third single and follow up of her previous tracks “Miss Me” and “One.” In every song, her silky high–pitch runs bring a rich warmth to the production, accentuating its thematic emotions to maximum effect.
Growing up in a musical household, RIVER has never been one to settle for the conventional when it comes to her creativity and lifestyle. From globetrotting Asia to San Francisco to Mexico, the Stockholm native has been leading a nomadic life for a while busking and performing in various cities while honing her own craft. “Travel was a way for me to let go of other people’s expectations—or at least what I thought they expected of me,” she states. “I was able to restart and find myself. I decided to move back to Sweden, because I knew I was going to do music for the rest of my life. I had my own songs, and I was ready to pursue this.”
Her work draws inspiration from a pastiche of experiences, places, and people that all have been part of her journey as an artist. “My music is like a smokey room in a castle from the 50s, full of crazy hot and lonely badass bitches coming together as one in a healing process,” says RIVER. Through both her music and style, she continues manifesting her commanding persona and authenticity that stand as the centerpiece of her artistry that captivate, thrill, and surprise her audience.
ABOUT RIVER:
With blunt and empowered honesty, soul-quaking vocals, and the sassy spirit of a vintage pinup model, RIVER sings straight from the heart. The Stockholm singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist infuses a lifetime obsession with soul, experiences gained on a globetrotting whirlwind, and rare mystique into a simmering signature style. She conjures up this energy on a series of singles for EMI Sweden / Universal Music AB and her forthcoming 2022 debut EP.
“I try to create a universe where I can freely express myself,” she explains. “I’m all about traditional jazz and blues, but I love the attitude of hip-hop as well. Stylistically, I’m inspired by the classic Playboy aesthetic and Bettie Page. The visuals and the music come together to tell a story.”
That story begins in Sweden. Born Elsa Sommarström, RIVER’s parents introduced her to Elvis Presley. “I was smitten by the way he sang and how he moved,” she smiles. “He made me fall in love with music.” Growing up in a creative household, her dad played bass in a popular Swedish band and worked as a journalist. At a young age, she studied her father’s CD and vinyl collections and quietly sang—unbeknownst to her family.
After her dad passed away, wanderlust took over and she embarked on an international sojourn for the next five years. Between short trips back to Stockholm, she intermittently lived in Germany, Asia, Australia, San Francisco, and New York before settling in San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico. Along the way, she embraced her voice, busking and performing standards from Etta James and Aretha Franklin in jazz clubs around Mexico for almost two years. Finally, she returned to Gothenburg with a fully conceptualized vision.
Upon returning to Europe, she adopted the moniker RIVER since her last name Sommarström translates to “Summer Stream” in English. Taking the first step on this path, she independently dropped “One” in 2020 and caught the attention of EMI Sweden, landing a deal with the label. Now, River really begins to blossom with her October 2021 single “Miss Me” and brand new track “We’ll Be Together.” Taking the reins, she brings her creative vision to life while also flexing her vocal prowess as she immerses her listeners into various personal narratives.
“RIVER is whoever the fuck she wants to be without apology,” she leaves off. “She’s the one person who doesn’t give a damn what anybody thinks. I leave everything behind when I’m in the studio, on stage, writing songs, and creating visuals as River. She’s an extended part—but still me.”