There’s no feeling quite like finally being able to fully step into your own, to truly embrace your whole self and carry yourself through the world with that mentality. Not an identity that other people have come to expect of you, but the identity that is actually true to you. That’s what country artist River Shook was able to do with their self-titled solo debut, released under River Shook instead of the Sarah Shook moniker that people have known them for over their career. From talking to River, one can see how this decision wasn’t about marketing or rebranding, but about the name people know them for catching up with who they’d become over the years. Ahead of their show at The Met next month, I heard from the singer-songwriter about the new record, the relationships at its center, and what it felt like to arrive somewhere on paper that they’d been heading for years.
“I’ve been going by River for five years now, so finally releasing River Shook felt like a powerful step forward,” they told me. River built their name fronting Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, an alt-country band with a raw blend of outlaw country, Americana, and punk rock that earned them a loyal following. Although the band is still very much part of the story, with the record’s producer and closest collaborator joining the Disarmers as a sub at one point, this solo debut marks a clear transition into a new era. “My Sarah Shook years got me to where I am. My River Shook years are going to actually get me where I’ve been wanting to go as an artist,” River shares.
What strikes me most about the record is how it’s able to masterfully create an array of moods. Some tracks are raw and confessional, with River talking bluntly about where they’re at. Other tracks are fun, upbeat, and twangy, packed with musicality, powerful vocals, and solo guitar flourishes. My standout track has to be “Running to Georgia,” a song that captures a specific moment at a dive bar in Savannah called El Rocko, in October 2021. River locked eyes with someone across the room and knew instantly, “That is my person.” That person turned out to be their band’s sound tech for the night. They hit it off, hung out after the show, and then the painstaking goodbye that comes with touring life. “In the van the next day, I was super depressed,” River said. “You constantly meet amazing people and have to say goodbye. Honestly, you’re lucky if you get to see them once a year.”
A few months later, River’s band needed a guitar sub. A former manager reached out to a musician in Nashville who wasn’t free for the show dates, but who mentioned it to his housemate instead. That housemate was Blake Tallent. He said yes. “Blake joined the Disarmers as a sub in June; we fell in love in Europe that August, and the rest is history,” River said. Tallent ended up playing nearly every instrument on the record and co-producing and engineering it alongside River. Simply put, “Dude is an absolute weapon,” River says.
River’s songwriting process is less about discipline and rudiments and more about actually living life and drawing from real experiences. “I’m not a discipline writer by any means. I live my life, collect experiences, make observations, and note impressions,” they explained. “At some point, my subconscious comes rushing to the surface, and all my thoughts spill out on the page, usually in less than 30 minutes.” They’ve tried forcing it before, sitting down determined to write. I think a lot of musicians will tell you that usually doesn’t work. “Without fail, they’re total garbage. Just unusable. So I stick to how I’ve always done it. Trust the process.” The songs come in waves of inspiration, they said, even after a long dry spell.
River’s instinct to trust what comes naturally predates their musical career, to a childhood where the only music allowed in the house was classical or worship. “I was deeply resistant to my parents’ religious, nonsensical beliefs, and inflexible thinking since I was a little kid,” they said. “I knew there was more to life, more to the world, than what they were selling.” Even though they were homeschooled and largely sheltered from the world, River still found their way to the genres that would define their sound. “I think country music and rock ’n’ roll are in my DNA. It was just a matter of time before I started a band and started playing shows.”
Years into the music business now, River’s advice to their younger self is practical: Think bigger and longer than you’re used to thinking. “Planning one or two releases ahead isn’t enough. Create a long-term plan. Like a 10- to 20-year plan,” they said. “Also, love it or hate it, the music business is a business. Treat it as such. If you make your living from music, learn everything you possibly can about growing your career and your money in a way that aligns with your personal moral compass.”
As for what they hope people will take away from the show at the Met this month, River conveyed a genuine message: “Performing is an act of service. I’m there to give fans an unforgettable night,” they said. “People who support live music are something truly special. They deserve our absolute best every night.” I think that tracks with everything else River said in the conversation, trusting the process over forcing things, and even the feel of the music itself. Nothing about River feels hollow or ostentatious. It’s all earned, and I’m excited to see what’s in store for them in this new chapter.
Catch River Shook live at The Met in Pawtucket on Sunday, August 23.