Vera’s “Riot” is a Sun-Drenched Standout
By Vera Deliver a Soulful, Swaggering Shift in Sound with One of Their Strongest Tracks to Date
Belfast’s underground has always had a knack for birthing bands that feel both urgent and inevitable—and right now, Vera are making a very convincing case for being next in that lineage.
Their latest single “Riot” lands like a glass of wine on a sun-drenched afternoon—deceptively smooth at first sip, but with a depth that lingers. There’s a looseness to it, an ease that feels miles away from anything forced. Instead, Vera tap into something instinctive: soul, groove, and a rhythm that has you swaying from the very first beat.
There’s a bounce to the drumbeat—almost weightless—cushioned by soft, rolling guitar lines and anchored by the sultry, slow-burn vocals of Sarah Toner.
There’s little doubt Vera have dropped a cracker of a tune here, one that hints at a more expansive and self-assured direction in their sound.
Overall
One of the strongest tracks we’ve heard this year—and this line alone is reason enough to check it out: “If this is love, I want a refund / If this is real, why do I feel so undone?”
Vera Are
Sarah Toner, Darragh Tibbs, Matt Holland and David Dalzell.