Stone Arch Rivals – “Riverside”

Stone Arch Rivals ease off the gas with “Riverside”, and the result is something a little more fragile, a little more bruised. This track leans into vulnerability without trying to spell it out, letting the tension between Claire Spinti’s delivery and Tommy Barbarella’s subtle piano work do the talking. There’s a gravity to how everything sits, nothing rushed, nothing overdone.

Instead of filling every corner, the band leaves space, which works in their favor, the guitars don’t scream; they echo, the keys don’t sparkle; they ache. It feels like the band isn’t chasing a sound, they’re sitting in a moment and letting it stretch out. That artwork? Clean, warped lines in bold orange and black, with a worn texture that makes it feel pulled out of a lost crate of ’70s vinyl. It fits the tone without being too on-the-nose.

Keep an eye on Stone Arch Rivals. Follow them on whatever platform you scroll the most, you’ll want to be there when the rest of their debut album drops later in 2025.