“Five Minutes With” Toronto Band Wild Rivers

The inviting harmonies of Wild Rivers provide a shimmering texture to the band’s new EP, Eighty-Eight. However, dedicated fans know about the depth of Wild Rivers – from the alluring melodies that take unexpected turns to the undercurrent of emotion in their tightly-crafted lyrics.

Wild Rivers is composed of Khalid Yassein (vocals, guitar), Devan Glover (vocals), Andrew Oliver (guitar, bass) and Julien Laferriere (drums). The Toronto-based band has accrued more than 35 million streams on Spotify, toured consistently across the U.S. and Canada, and earned a reputation as a band that makes a powerful connection with listeners.

Wild Rivers by Mae Krell
Wild Rivers by Mae Krell

Name : Wild Rivers

Genre: Folk ‘n Roll & Country Soul

Founded: 2015

# of Albums: 1 album, 1 EP

Latest Release: EP – Eighty-Eight (released June 2018); Moving Target (Single, released Jan 25 2019)

Latest Single: Moving Target – released Jan 25

Latest Video:

Favourite Restaurant:

Devan: Fresh (amazing vegetarian restaurant)

Khal: Sima sushi (sushi in Kingston)

Andy: Black Cat Coffee – best breakfast sandwich in the city

Julien: Freshii (way better than Fresh)

Favourite band as a teenager:

Devan: Coldplay

Khal: R.E.M.

Andy: The Strokes

Julien: The hip

Favourite band now:

Devan: Coldplay’s still up there! Bombay Bicycle Club, The Lumineers, The Paper Kites

Khal: Dawes

Andy: Nathaniel Rateliff, Bahamas, John Mayer, Tame Impala

Julien: Daniel Romano/Attack in Black

Guilty Pleasure Song:

Devan: What Makes You Beautiful – One Direction (TBH: there’s no guilt! It’s an amazing song.)

Khal: Bad Boys 4 Lyfe

Andy: 21 Questions (Feat. Nate Dogg) – 50 Cent (Nate Dogg was the king of hooks)

Julien: anything by Paramore

Live Show Ritual:

We huddle up side stage, and take turns giving cheesy inspirational speeches before the show. Then we say TEAM and bonk heads in the middle.

Favourite local artist:

Devan: Andy Shauf, Charlotte Day Wilson, Daniel Caesar

Andrew: Bahamas, Andy Shauf, Lost Cousins, Matty, BadBadNotGood

Khal: The Weather Station

Julien: FET.NAT

Sneaky Dees nachos, pasta from Terroni or a superfood salad from Fresh?

Devan: Death from above nacho

Andy: Give me those DFA Nachos

Khal: superfood salad to avoid the nacho guilt

Queen or College St?

Devan: Dundas west

Andrew: Dundas West all the way. Little Portugal FTW

Khal: Dundas West

Trinity Bellwoods or Highpark, Riverdale or Kew Gardens?

Devan: Trinity Bellwoods! My favourite place in Toronto (in the summer)

Khal: Riverdale

Andy: Trinity Bellwoods (Dufferin Grove beats all)

Julien: Trinity Bellwoods is my home, now

EP or LP?

Dev: Hmm this is hard… but these days I might say EP.

Khal: LP

Andy: Double LP

Julien: single

Early bird or night owl?

Dev: Both? I don’t get very much sleep

Khal: 100% night ow

Andy: Owl.. whoooo whooooo

Julien: both

Road or studio?

Devan: Studio

Khal: Studio on the road

Andy: The Stu

Julien: my only love is the road

Upcoming shows?

February 27 – Toronto, ON – Opera House *

February 28 – Hamilton, ON – Mills Hardware *

March 1 – Guelph, ON – University of Guelph

March 2 – Burnstown, ON – Neat Café (SOLD OUT)

March 4 – Montreal, QC – Quai *

March 5 – Quebec City, QC – L’Anti *

March 6 – Kingston, ON – The Ale House *

March 7 – London, ON –Rum Runners *

* with special guest Cat Clyde

Where can we follow you?

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About Joel Levy 2530 Articles
Editor-In-Chief at Toronto Guardian. Photographer and Writer for Toronto Guardian and Joel Levy Photography