Sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what creativity needs. For Canadian artist Caroline Fernandez, better known as Riverie, a period of uncertainty and a desire to find somewhere peaceful to disappear helped spark a new musical chapter. The result is “Faded Empire,” a four-track debut EP that draws listeners into a hazy world of atmospheric electronics, hypnotic vocals and beautifully moody songwriting.
Following the release of her debut single, “The Ugly and The Beautiful,” Riverie now brings the complete project into focus. The EP features that introductory track alongside three previously unreleased songs: “Not At The Same Time,” “Give It All Away” and the title track, “Faded Empire.” Co-written and produced with Andy Barlow of LAMB, the collection feels like the meeting point of two creative minds exploring new possibilities.
The story behind the collaboration is just as interesting as the music itself. Riverie first connected with Barlow through his In Flow music retreats, where the open and supportive creative environment encouraged her to approach singing and songwriting differently. Their work together continued in Goa, where Fernandez spent time living near Barlow in a small village surrounded by beautiful coastal scenery. It was a setting that offered the distance and calm she had been looking for while the world around her felt increasingly uncertain.
That atmosphere seems to have found its way into the EP. “Not At The Same Time” opens up a particularly dreamy space, pairing laid-back percussion with reverberating guitars and Riverie’s hypnotic vocal delivery. There is a relaxed, almost floating quality to the arrangement, giving the track an intimate character without losing its atmospheric appeal.
The title track takes things in a darker direction. Built around arpeggiated synthesizers and pulsing rhythms, “Faded Empire” carries a haunting electronic mood that adds another dimension to the project. It is a shift that works well within the EP’s overall identity, showing how Riverie can move between softer, more spacious moments and sounds with a little more tension.
Then comes “Give It All Away,” which closes the collection with an especially atmospheric finish. Electronic drum machines and ethereal pads create a spectral backdrop, while the persistent percussion gives the track a sense of forward movement. It rounds off the release with a distinctive combination of dreamlike textures and rhythmic drive.
Across all four tracks, Riverie’s voice is the element that brings everything together. Her spacey vocal presence gives the music a recognisable identity, allowing the different arrangements to feel connected even as they explore contrasting moods.
Riverie’s musical journey also adds context to this new direction. Fernandez previously founded River Below Rivers and was involved in the house music project Paper Kid. With this latest venture, she moves into a more shadowy, atmospheric territory shaped by influences such as FKA Twigs, LAMB and Portishead. Conceived between Goa and the UAE, where she resides, Riverie brings together experiences from different places and earlier musical chapters to create something distinctly her own.
“Faded Empire” is an impressive introduction to that world. It is a project built on atmosphere, experimentation and a willingness to explore different sides of artistic expression. Rather than trying to overwhelm listeners, Riverie invites them into a carefully constructed sonic space where every track adds another shade to the picture.
Riverie makes a striking first impression with ‘Faded Empire’
