On April 30, Asheville-founded indie folk band River Whyless will appear on PBS North Carolina’s music series Shaped by Sound, a statewide program highlighting North Carolina artists through live studio performances and in-depth conversation.
The quartet—Halli Anderson (vocals, violin), Ryan O’Keefe (vocals, guitar), Daniel Shearin (vocals, bass and harmonium) and Alex McWalters (drums)—has built its reputation on layered harmonies, expansive arrangements and songwriting that resists easy categorization. Moving between folk and indie rock, River Whyless pairs intricate musicianship with a collaborative spirit shaped over more than a decade together.
“Our sound is always evolving,” says O’Keefe. “Maybe that is because we are playful, maybe it is because we get bored easily or maybe it is simply the reality of having three songwriters in one band. What I do know is that every time we sit down to write, whatever idea we think we are chasing at the start usually transforms into something else entirely by the end.”
Early records leaned into sweeping sonic landscapes. More recent work, including the album Monflora, tightens the focus on songcraft while maintaining the band’s signature depth…