RIIVER BRUKES

‘Rainy Tuesday‘ is a heartfelt song that captures the fragile beauty of life – its joys, sorrows, pain and inevitable losses.
It celebrates the enduring love of a father for his child and the deep lifelong friendships that hold us through moments of triumph, grief, and everything in between.
Written over 20 years ago by Ben Vezina, alongside his longtime friends, Angelo (guitar) and Jayme (bass), the song was born in anticipation of Ben’s first child, his son Liam.
It was intended as a joyful tribute to a beautiful new life.
But as life often does, circumstances intervened, and the song remained unfinished, tucked away like a cherished but incomplete memory.
Years later, at the age of 48, Ben received a terminal cancer diagnosis with only 4-6 weeks left.
In a raw, heartfelt conversation, he shared perhaps his deepest regret:
not completing ‘Rainy Tuesday’ for his son.
“Determined to honor his wish, I reached out to our producer, Kevin. Without hesitation, Kevin paused all studio work to enable Ben, Angelo and Jayme – friends for over 35 years – one final soul stirring session. Together, they brought the song to life, recording it live off the floor, weaving together the threads of love, loss and humanity that now define Ben’s legacy. It was my greatest honor to sing this song for Ben.“
And Riiver Brukes continues:
“’Rainy Tuesday’ is more than a song: it’s a testament of what it means to be human, a reminder to cherish what truly matters.”
Jayme Tartaglia comments on ‘Rainy Tuesday’:
“It was Grade 7 homeroom class, and all I could hear was tapping on a desk. Eventually, I looked over at this blond kid laying down the beats with 2 pencils like a pro. Turns out he was a ballroom dancer and no more a drummer than I was!! That would change soon enough though as we were both after the drummer spot in music class. Guess it’s pretty clear how that worked out – I’m playing bass!! Ben and I became best Friends and bandmates. Recording ‘Rainy Tuesday’ for Ben and Liam after all those years, was a gift I will never forget.”
Angelo Vagenas comments:
“Ben, how many times have we re-lived those moments? Each attempt was closer to perfection. Maybe we finally got it right, maybe each attempt is perfect, or maybe it’s not what matters at all. Please wait for us. There is more. I promise.”
Elizabeth Lopez-Jardine comments:
“Ben, you were an angel sent from above. You shined your love and light to the people who needed it most then went back home to heaven where you now rest easy. I knew you only for a minute in this World but you will never be forgotten. In my heart always; your energy will be with me forever 11:11”.
“‘Rainy Tuesday’ is the 6th song in a special collection of 7 featuring our late Friend and drummer, Ben Vezina.”
They wrote it for a son not yet born…
Two decades later, it became a father’s final gift…

Riiver Brukes closes the chapter on a year-long sonic odyssey with ‘Friends in Black‘ – a haunting and heartfelt finale to her ten-track album ‘Deja Vu‘.
Released on June 24, 2025 – exactly one year after the passing of her drummer and friend, Ben Vezina – the song serves as both a tribute and a release.
“Deja Vu is a brief exploration of the unknown. It attempts to cast a glimpse into the oddity and oftentimes coincidental happenings that perhaps guide us in certain directions. The choices we make, the people we keep around us all influence the trajectory of our life in general but what of the elements we can’t explain? Just coincidence? The mystery of the human mind remains largely, just that, a mystery. Is it the soul of a person? Is there telepathy or another force beyond ourselves that drives our decisions? It is commonly understood that we only use a tiny fraction of our minds capacity..so maybe there is something else.”
With gut-punch lyrics like ‘friends in black riding the last Cadillac‘ and ‘midnight tears behind locked doors‘, this alt-pop ballad doesn’t just tug at your heartstrings – it tears them wide open.
Each track in the ‘Deja Vu‘ collection has peeled back layers of grief, hope, illusion, and memory, with ‘Friends in Black‘ standing as the emotional peak.
From ‘Heartland‘ to ‘Rainy Tuesday‘, Riiver Brukes has been building toward this moment – one filled with sorrow, grace, and a quiet strength that’s impossible to ignore.
Tied together by raw storytelling and cinematic visuals, this final single and its accompanying music video cement Riiver’s place as a rising voice in alt/indie-pop.
Over 500,000 YouTube views prove the world is watching – and feeling – every word.
Earlier on in 2025 Riiver Brukes released also single ‘Deja Vu – Is Your Mind Playing Tricks On You‘.
“The theme of this song took us in an interesting direction musically, with an almost playful feel at times on keys, a soulful rhythmic guitar and a driving bass and drums, yet more subtle vocal elements and an interesting mix of chords, the song, musically, lends itself to an unusual and almost otherworldly feel at times.”
The song ‘Deja Vu’ is this album’s name sake and is one of the last remaining songs left to release which features our late Friend and drummer Ben Vezina.

Riiver Brukes:
“‘All that Glitters’ – is really a song about perspective. It was inspired by a couple who decided to publicly complain about how their situation was not ideal as they were forced to live in a ‘tiny’ $5m home. At the height of the pandemic, where many regular people were literally starving and unable to pay bills or feed their families due to restrictions at that time, it seemed not only insensitive but displayed a great ignorance of the struggles of many everyday people. It demonstrated that money cannot buy happiness and for some people no matter how much they have, it will never be enough. Those types of people are, in my experience, the unhappiest of all. ‘All that Glitters’ has an almost punk vibe to it and was one of the last songs which would feature our late drummer and friend, Ben. The drums were recorded live off the floor as we had very limited time left with Ben who would pass away from cancer 2 weeks later. This song touches on the great divide between the poorest and the wealthiest in society. It hints at what is little more than a game to one person, can mean everything to another. Lastly, and perhaps importantly, notes that sometimes things are not always as they appear. It touches on the great divide between the poorest and the wealthiest of people. It hints at what is of little consequence to one person, can be life or death for another. Furthermore, and perhaps importantly, notes that sometimes things are not what they appear on the surface.”