Riverby Emphasizes the Cyclical Nature of Pain and Healing With "The Telltale Heart"

Philly-based heavy indie outfit Riverby is calling out anyone who has ever idealized an ex on this atypical breakup track. We’ve all done it, and that’s what makes this song so universally cool and also a little humbling. Vocalist Sophia Greenberg emphasizes the fact that pain is temporary, but it’s never once and done.

Produced by Twin Pines member Justin Nazario, who also just worked on the new Dweller record, this song cuts deep and feels raw and fuzzed-out around the edges. With Tisburys members Tyler Asay and Doug Keller on guitar and bass Dan Nazario on drums, this is such a sonically tight listen. It kicks off with a an angst-driven electric guitar hook and the energy just continues to go up from there. I listened to this song for the better part of two hours and I felt like I was buzzing.

“The Telltale Heart” is lyrically layered, pulling from Greenberg’s own life as well as playing on the classic Poe story of the same name. “Maybe it’s my own heart that I heard beneath the floor / it took me by surprise, you would have thought I’d heard that sound before” is one of the most powerful lines in the refrain and directly parallels the classic short. Each time it comes up, Greenberg sings it differently. As the song builds in frustration, that specific line also grows in intensity.

Ultimately, it still is a song about moving on and getting over, but it’s also a pretty direct callout to anyone who tends to sit in masochism and idealize the pain of a breakup because it’s all they have left of the person. It listens like a lesson, and knowing that there are some deeply personal firsthand details in the lyrics ground the overall edgy sound into something with a potential fragility. The duality of moments where Greenberg reminds both herself and the listener that someone who isn’t good for you isn’t good for you really do resonate. This isn’t just another punk rock breakup song. There are moments of true value here.

Riverby’s album release show was slated for May 22nd at Khyber Pub with Stillwatcher and Kailey Prior, but all details are currently TBD for obvious reasons.

Stream “The Telltale Heart” below, or even better, support local artists like crazy right now and buy the track.