Ultraviolet

River Honey Releases Debut
Album Honouring Windsor

Story by Michael Seguin
Photography by Travis Latam

What is a legacy? How would you place it? How would you characterize it?

And how would you identify the legacy of a place as rich and as textured as Windsor? 

These are all questions posed by River Honey’s debut album, Ultraviolet. The new alternative rock band is comprised of four distinct members, including Nico DiGiorgio, Nick Bondar, Dane Roberts and Madeline Doornaert. 

And if Madeline sounds familiar, that’s because she’s something of a local staple in Windsor’s music community. You might have heard her songs broadcasted across Canada on CBC Radio. Or you might be familiar with her solo performances with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra. She released her debut album, Muddy Water, in 2021, followed by Broken Harbour in 2024.

But River Honey represents a unique challenge for Madeline. Having spent her career primarily as a solo artist (with some collaborations along the way!), this project is her first time working so closely with other musicians.

And what’s more, Dane Roberts—the band’s vocalist—is her fiancé.

“Since high school, Dane and I have worked on various different songs and albums—together, but mostly independently,” Madeline states. “We’ve put our heart and soul into so many different projects. But then, we just so happened to start this new band with Nick and Nico. And this one stuck! It felt just right. And we’re all close friends and would have been hanging out anyways. So, starting a band together just made sense!”

And thus far, moving from solo to collaborative has been an enriching experience for Madeline.

“Both approaches definitely have their advantages and disadvantages,” Madeline explains. “As a solo artist, it’s wonderful to have that autonomy. You’re on top of everything. You’re responsible for everything. But as a group, it’s wonderful to have other people you can bounce ideas off—especially when it’s your closest friends! Collaborating on a shared project like this has been such a fulfilling and inspiring experience.” 

As well, working so closely with her fiancé has yielded dividends for Madeline.

“Dane is just amazing!” Madeline states. “And we’ve been soft collaborators for a long time. Whenever we go for walks, we will dream up project and song ideas. We’re always running things by each other. Whenever Dane writes a new song, he’ll play the demo for me in the car. Sometimes I’ll give him feedback like, ‘What if we had this visual we could incorporate?’”  

This latest shared project—Ultraviolet—was something of an organic expression of these four friends working together.

“We didn’t start out to create an ode to our city,” Madeline recalls. “Dane is the writer for the band. He was making music that just so happened to reflect that. Music that exemplified this magical grit that Windsor has. We have this really cool industrial side to our city. But we also have this enchanting warmth. There’s all these big factories looming around us. But on a cold night in the middle of winter you can also wander into Meteor Music Venue on University, grab a drink and hear these local bands play. So, we’ve always been captivated by our home.”

All these disparate threads were woven into River Honey’s sounds. Sounds which, much like Windsor itself, form together to create an unexpected, but absolutely a harmonious whole.  

“Primarily our sound is based on 1990s grunge,” Madeline states. “It’s rooted in alternative rock and roll, but with a more modern edge to it. We’re especially inspired by the storytelling of the Tragically Hip, and the raw, emotional grit of The Glorious Sons. So, it’s exciting to adapt and take in all these other influences. And we’re already working on our next project, where we’re kind of taking a completely new turn.”

Ultraviolet was released in February of this year. And to commemorate the occasion, the band had their first live performance at Meteor. 

“The night was really special!” Madeline explains. “The album is space-themed, so we wanted to make attendees feel like they left the planet. And the venue itself was Meteor, so it worked really well! We decorated the whole place with planets and stars. We were just blown away by the turnout and the energy. It really meant a lot to see people connecting with the music—some were even singing the songs back to us, which was surreal, especially with the album being so new.” 

That debut performance was so successful, in fact, that it threatened to violate health and safety protocols. Meaning that several people had to be turned aside at the door, which is something of a tremendous compliment to the new band! 

River Honey is currently hard at work on their next project. A single rather than an album, the song continues to manifest the grit of Windsor, but through a new angle.

“Our new sound channels a bit of Southern Rock,” Madeline states. “It’s got a little bit more of a rural, more western, aesthetic. And we’ll definitely plan another release show around that!”

And now, looking back on her career throughout Windsor, Madeline takes a moment to share some advice with any aspiring new musicians.

“There are so many things I would say,” Madeline explains. “But for me, music is all about making connections with people. Whether it’s a certain song or a setup or artwork, it’s beautiful how it can resonate with someone out there and make them feel something. At the core of it all, the most important thing for me is to stay inspired. Follow your heart! And when it comes to influences, if there’s something that speaks to you artistically, keep chasing it down. Your heart knows the way.”

But in the end, Madeline returns to her love of the city that nourished her.

“River Honey came out of Windsor, just like each one of us,” Madeline explains. “We’re all so deeply connected to what we consider the core of our home. We love our city, and we want to keep creating projects that will honour that legacy.”

River Honey and Ultraviolet are both streaming on all major music-sharing platforms. Check out their new single Black Crows, set for release in early January 2026. 

Published in the Holiday 2025 Edition.