In both style and yield, Someday River has always flowed with ease. On par with the temperate roll of their atmospheric dream folk, the Orlando band’s output has historically been a trickle of singles. Their 12-year recording career has so far only produced three collections, with a recent one that’s the first in five years. But their new Wake Me Up Sometime EP justifies the wait. More than just Someday River’s latest, it’s possibly their greatest.
Their formula — melodic indie-folk rock with an airy pop core and soft psych edges — remains pleasingly unchanged. The quartet of Greyson Charnock (vocals, guitar, sampler/synth), Mike Scitney (drums), Robert Carter (bass, vocals) and Joseph Davoli (keys, synth, trumpet, glockenspiel) are a high-functioning unit who know how to stoke a sumptuous tapestry. These four new songs, however, are an exceptionally honed batch.
Someday River have always been adept at crafting atmosphere, but these are some of Charnock’s most evocative and memorable melodies to date. And the mild but massive dynamics are perhaps the band’s best sonic balance yet. That alluring synergy dazzles most in standout tracks “Wake Me Up Sometime” and “Letting Off Balloons,” which pack sweeping pop sighs as wide as the sky. Even the near-lullaby “Lemon Tree” carries an undercurrent that hints at vastness.
A lush mosaic of folk, pop and psych, the Wake Me Up Sometime EP is a beaming reminder of Someday River’s craft and ability. Even better, it looks like it’ll be followed up in short order by a live visual album that the band will roll out this summer. Moreover, Charnock also tells me that they’re already in the final stages of a full-length album planned for release late this year or early next.
But these are destinations. When you’re on Someday River, where the sound is itself a state of being, just bask in the journey. The Wake Me Up Sometime EP now streams everywhere. Next week, you can catch Someday River live when they perform with Young & Sick.
8 p.m. Thursday, July 2, Will’s Pub, $15-$20.
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This article appears in June 24-30, 2026.
