You know that feeling when a song just clicks? Not just a "this is catchy" click, but a "how does this person know my life" kind of click. That is exactly what happens when you're thinking bout love Wild Rivers style. The Toronto-based indie-folk trio—Khalid Yassein, Devan Glover, and Andrew Oliver—managed to capture a very specific, very messy kind of heartache in their breakout track. It isn't just about a breakup. It’s about the lingering ghost of a relationship that you know is dead but somehow still feels like it’s breathing in the room with you.
Songs about moving on are everywhere. Most of them are either "I'm so over you" anthems or "I'm dying without you" ballads. Wild Rivers found the grey area. It’s the space where you’re fine, mostly. You’re living your life, you’re working, you’re seeing friends, but then you’re sitting at a red light and suddenly you’re thinking about how they used to rest their hand on the gear shift.
It’s heavy.
The Anatomy of a Modern Heartbreak Anthem
When the band released "Thinking 'Bout Love" back in 2019, they probably didn't realize it would become a multi-platinum staple of every "late night drives" playlist on Spotify. The production is sparse for a reason. You’ve got those gorgeous, interlocking harmonies between Khalid and Devan that make the whole thing feel like a conversation you're having with yourself. Or maybe a conversation you wish you were having with an ex.
The song works because it focuses on the mundane. It’s not about grand betrayals or cinematic departures. It’s about the small stuff—the stuff that actually makes up a life together. When people are thinking bout love Wild Rivers is usually the soundtrack because the lyrics acknowledge the "sunk cost" of time. You spent years building something, and even if it was the right choice to walk away, that doesn't mean those years just vanish from your brain.
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Why the Harmonies Matter So Much
There’s something biologically satisfying about the way Khalid and Devan’s voices blend. It’s more than just good singing. In folk music, vocal harmony often represents unity or shared experience. In this track, though, the harmonies feel more like an echo. It’s like two people trying to stay in sync even as they’re drifting apart in different directions.
Devan Glover’s voice has this breathy, almost exhausted quality to it in the verses. It sounds like she’s tired of her own thoughts. Khalid provides the grounding force. Together, they create a sonic landscape that feels like a chilly morning in Ontario—crisp, a little bit lonely, but undeniably beautiful. Honestly, if you’ve ever sat in a parked car while it’s raining, you know exactly what this song sounds like without even hearing the notes.
The Cultural Impact of the Wild Rivers Sound
Wild Rivers didn't just stumble into success. They’ve been grinding since their days at Queen's University, back when they were known as Devan & Khalid. They have this "no-frills" approach to folk-pop that feels authentic in an era where everything is over-produced. They aren't trying to be the next Mumford & Sons with stomping kick drums and banjos. They’re much closer to the vibe of Fleetwood Mac or The Civil Wars, where the tension between the singers is the actual instrument.
The stats back it up, too. "Thinking 'Bout Love" has racked up hundreds of millions of streams. It’s been certified Gold in the US and Platinum in Canada. But beyond the numbers, it’s the way the song has lived on TikTok and Instagram Reels. People use it to soundtrack their own "main character moments."
The Psychological Loop of "Thinking 'Bout Love"
Why do we keep listening to sad songs when we’re already sad? Psychologists call it "mood-congruent media consumption." Basically, we want our outside world to match our inside world. When you’re thinking bout love Wild Rivers provides a container for those feelings.
- Validation: The song tells you it's okay to still care about someone you shouldn't.
- Catharsis: That swelling bridge allows for a release of tension.
- Nostalgia: It triggers "autobiographical memory," where the brain connects the melody to your own specific past.
It’s almost like a form of self-therapy. You listen, you cry a little, you feel understood, and then you can go back to being a functional human being. It’s the "thinking" part that’s the trap. The song isn't called "Being in Love." It's about the thought of it. The memory of the feeling, which is often more potent than the reality ever was.
Real Talk: Is the Song Overrated?
Some critics argue that indie-folk has become a bit of a cliché. You know the trope: acoustic guitar, soft vocals, lyrics about trees and coffee. And yeah, Wild Rivers fits into that world. But they do it better than most. The difference is the songwriting.
A lot of modern folk is vague. It uses metaphors that don't really mean anything. Wild Rivers is specific. When they talk about the "middle of the night" or the "weight of the world," it feels earned. They aren't just throwing words at a wall to see what sticks. They’re telling a story that feels lived-in.
The Evolution of the Band
Since the massive success of "Thinking 'Bout Love," the band hasn't just rested on their laurels. Their 2022 album, Sidelines, and their more recent 2024 work like Never Better show a band that is growing up. They’re moving away from the pure "heartbreak folk" and into a more sophisticated, slightly more upbeat pop-rock sound.
But they still have that core DNA.
Even in their newer, faster tracks, you can hear that same yearning. They’ve mastered the art of "happy-sad" music—songs that make you want to dance while you’re thinking about your regrets. It’s a hard line to walk without being cheesy, but they manage it.
How to Actually Move On (According to the Music)
Look, a song isn't going to fix your life. If you’re stuck in a loop thinking bout love Wild Rivers is a great companion, but at some point, you have to turn the music off.
The song itself is a cycle. It starts quiet, builds up, and then fades back out. That’s how grief works. It’s not a straight line. It’s a circle that gets slightly bigger and less intense every time you go around it. The actionable takeaway from the track isn't to stay stuck in the past; it’s to acknowledge the past so you can finally let it go.
- Audit your playlists: If you’re listening to this on repeat at 2 AM every night, maybe take a break. Your brain needs new inputs to create new patterns.
- Journal the "small things": The song focuses on tiny details. Write down the tiny things you miss, then write down the tiny things that were actually annoying. Balance the narrative.
- Go see them live: If you have the chance, Wild Rivers is one of those bands that actually sounds better in person. The chemistry between the three of them on stage is palpable and reminds you that music is a collaborative, living thing.
What’s Next for Wild Rivers?
The band is currently touring and consistently putting out new material that pushes their boundaries. They’ve moved from being "the band that wrote that one song" to a legitimate force in the international indie scene. They’re playing bigger venues, hitting major festivals, and proving that there is still a massive appetite for music that feels human and handmade.
In a world dominated by AI-generated beats and 15-second viral clips, Wild Rivers feels like a relief. They’re a reminder that three people with instruments and some shared history can still make something that resonates across the globe.
Actionable Insights for Moving Through the "Thinking" Phase
If you find yourself stuck in the headspace of this song, here are a few ways to process those feelings without getting drowned by them:
- Acknowledge the Ghost: Don't beat yourself up for thinking about an ex. It's a natural brain function. Label it: "Oh, there’s that memory again," and then move on to what you’re doing in the present.
- Change Your Environment: If you always listen to folk music in your room, take a walk outside and listen to something completely different—upbeat jazz, 90s hip-hop, anything that breaks the emotional aesthetic.
- Create Something: You don't have to be a professional songwriter to get your feelings out. Sometimes just humming a melody or scribbling a few lines can move the energy out of your head and into the physical world.
- Connect with the Community: One of the best things about being a fan of a band like Wild Rivers is the community. Read the YouTube comments on the "Thinking 'Bout Love" music video. You’ll see thousands of people sharing their own stories. It makes the world feel a lot less lonely.
Ultimately, the power of thinking bout love Wild Rivers style is that it gives us permission to be unfinished. We don't have to have all the answers. We don't have to be "healed" on a specific timeline. We just have to keep moving, even if we're looking over our shoulders every once in a while.
The song ends with a fade, not a crash. And honestly, that’s exactly how most of our stories end, too. We don't get a big finale; we just eventually realize we haven't thought about that person in a few days. And then a few weeks. And then, one day, we hear the song again and it’s just a beautiful piece of music, rather than a map of our own pain.
To truly appreciate the artistry, pay attention to the silence between the notes in the final chorus. That’s where the real story lives. It’s the space where you decide what comes next for you, regardless of who you’re thinking about.