Chris Garneau has unveiled his latest single, “Riot”, offering an arresting preview of the direction he is taking on his forthcoming album “In Reverse”, set for release on February 13, 2026. Good Star Vibes is excited to premiere both the track and its accompanying lyric visualiser. It acts as the follow-up to his previous single release “Off The Ring“.
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“Riot” sees the Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter lean into a more forthright, emotionally charged sound while still holding onto the tenderness and introspection that have defined his work since his debut. The track, shaped in collaboration with producer Mike McGuire, blends an intimate vocal delivery with a sense of simmering defiance. Dan Marcellus handled the mix, with mastering by Connor Gilmore, resulting in a warm and textured production that supports the song’s vulnerable yet assertive tone.
Across “Riot”, Chris Garneau channels the strain of navigating outside expectations, framing the song around the quiet persistence it takes to stay true to yourself. The track leans into a sense of emotional turbulence, pairing its intimate production with a tone that hints at resistance simmering beneath the surface. Its chorus leans into the idea of embracing disorder as a means of self-preservation, while the verses sketch out the tension between outward cooperation and an inner refusal to be reshaped.
“‘Riot’ is about recognizing when you’re being asked to bend into someone else’s idea of who you should be,” Garneau explains. “It’s a celebration of holding your own ground, even when it feels messy or impossible. I wanted the music to match that energy—raw, intimate, and carefully crafted to carry the tension and gravity of the song.”
The lyric visualiser takes on a stripped-back approach, built from looping footage of Chris Garneau during a relaxed photoshoot. Seated on a couch or balanced on its backrest in a light grey faux-fur coat with dark grey streaks alongside some white socks, he appears in a candid, almost behind-the-scenes setting. The simple composition, paired with pale yellow lyrics appearing at the centre of the frame, gives the video an intimate quality that sits comfortably alongside the emotional tone of the song.
Chris Garneau first came to prominence in the mid-2000s, quickly gaining international attention for his delicate, piano-led arrangements and cinematic songwriting. His music has resonated widely, leading to global touring and notable collaborations, including an appearance in Pedro Almodóvar’s film, The Skin I Live In, with his striking interpretation of “Between the Bars”. Over the years, he has released a series of acclaimed projects that explore the breadth of his artistry, from the early days of “Music for Tourists” through to the emotionally layered “The Kind” and more recent singles and EPs.
“Riot” marks the beginning of a compelling new chapter ahead of “In Reverse”, set to be released February 13, 2026. With roots in both New York and Paris, Chris Garneau continues to evolve while remaining grounded in the intimate storytelling that first drew listeners in.
“Riot” is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms, via Arcadia Sound (BMI), Rough Trade Songs, and Creepy Crawler Publishing. Look out for his forthcoming album, “In Reverse”, which will be dropped in February 2026.
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