We recently had the chance to connect with RiVERSE and have shared our conversation below.
RiVERSE, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: When was the last time you felt true joy?
JUSTICE: The last time I felt true joy was at RiVERSE’s ‘Humanity In Volume’ listening party, held at the legendary El Mocambo here in Toronto. We were able to sit in that space with so many people who have been in our lives personally, artistically, and professionally throughout our whole career. To have them there for the most important project of RiVERSE’s career to date was nothing short of magical. The whole setup, the energy, everything about it – I was absolutely elated and filled with joy and happiness and I was so proud of what we have accomplished.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
KHADIJA: Of course! RiVERSE is a pop/r&b group with a mission to Represent the Underrepresented. We have members of different backgrounds, races, genders, sexual orientations, body types and so many life experiences. Our goal is to use our music and our authentic stories to offer representation to people who usually don’t see themselves in mainstream media. Our songs and live performance are competitive, because we WANT to be on the main stages right next to all of the biggest acts and bring our message to global audiences, so you can expect really strong pop production, big vocals and harmonies, high energy choreography, and lyrics with a message. Right now, we’re promoting our latest EP, ‘Humanity In Volume’ which is an album sharing Justice’s experience being diagnosed HIV positive. It’s his personal journey, but this EP is really for anyone who has faced a similar challenge, to offer healing and hope that they can also live happy, healthy, totally thriving lives!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
JUSTICE: One moment that really shaped how I see the world was when RiVERSE traveled to South Korea to perform back in 2018. That trip alone was incredible but there was one particular day we were performing in the legendary busking district in Hongdae and we attracted such a massive crowd. But it wasn’t just a crowd of Korean individuals, it was global – there was a diverse group of people standing in front of us and I just realized in that moment how connected we are as people. Even though we inhabit different parts of the earth, we can still be drawn together through music. To flip the common saying, it feels like we’re so far and yet still so close.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
KHADIJA: We’ve been a group for 13 years, so I’m sure at various points we have individually had to think about whether or not continuing on this path was right for us. We actually DID break up back in 2015 for about a year!! But in that time, we realized that the music we create and the message we have to share with the world is too good and there is still so much for us to accomplish together. I think the thing that’s kept us going for 13+ years is the fact that we can rely on each other. If one person is having a hard time, there are three other people beside them to help them through, and also to just pick up the torch and keep things moving forward. If it was any one of us on our own, who knows if we would have given up during a difficult stretch.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
MONROE: One thing about RiVERSE is that we’re never pretending to be something we are not. I think that’s why people find us so relatable and are drawn to us. We truly are ourselves through our music, online, in videos. Speaking on a personal note, I have a full-time job outside of RiVERSE and I feel like that part of me is the part that I’m trying to put on as best as I can. Whereas when I’m doing music and art, which is true to my soul, that’s exactly who I am.
ZAK: Colouring in my sister Monroe’s answer further, the familial bond and genuine friendship you see between the 4 members of RiVERSE is authentic. That is formed over more than a dozen years of our shared pursuit of reaching the global stage as completely independent artists. I don’t think we would have been able to persist without true love and camaraderie. But do we keep the fishnets, leather, harnesses, high heels and full glam makeup on when the cameras are off? I’m going to let you in on a little secret: I am about to get in my underwear under a fort of blankets and pillows to chow down on a BIG bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and cuddle my partner while watching “The Muppet Christmas Carol.” So I suppose the answer is “no” – we’re also humans who do humanly things when not the pop star personas we present in RiVERSE. But isn’t everything people do to present themselves to the world a form of self-expression and performance? As RuPaul said, “We’re all born naked and the rest is drag.”
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
MONROE: I don’t know if people will misunderstand our legacy, however I will say that in the beginning there were a lot of people who just didn’t understand what we were. They looked at RiVERSE and they didn’t know where to place us or who we are as a music group. Now, the world has become so much more open and accepting of differences and those differences are what bring people together. The beautiful thing about that is this diversity has actually been a part of our mission and mantra since we first began, so I feel like now is the perfect time for RiVERSE to be just showing out and doing our thing. Maybe that’s going to be our legacy – the way we forged ahead until the world was ready to see us exactly as we are!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/riverselive
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/riverselive
- Other: https://tiktok.com/@riverselive
Image Credits
Fabian Di Corcia
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