Here’s a lovely song from a wonderful young man…
August 11, 2023 – Today, experimental artist Riovaz and fellow up-and-comer, Kanii drop a brooding new single “waiting alonE.” Soulful and bouncy yet disruptive, the track finds the 19-year-old musician expanding his sonic horizons by delivering an infectious yet ominous piece of electro-pop pageantry. Of the track Rio shares “This is a song I made with Kanii at 4am one night. It feels like when you go home with someone and never see them again. Really fun but kinda dark at the same time.” Listen HE’RE.
“Pick your side, I know you’re waiting alone,” the New Jersey native croons over bass-heavy production and fluttering synths. “Just take your time.” Rio’s tender voice is the perfect foil for the song’s gloomy soundscape. That comes through on the propulsive chorus when he belts, “I would take you, but you’re not mine to keep for long,” over layered effects and dizzying distortion. It’s clear that Rio’s thirst for experimentation hasn’t been quenched.
Fans of the hotly tipped newcomer can catch him on tour when he sets out on RIORAVE II: DISTURB THE NORM this fall. Rio will be trekking across the country and delivering his unique pop confections including “Tantrum (Pace Yourself),” the skaiwater-assisted “Hypnotized,” “U Neva,” “Can’t Keep Myself Intact,” and more. See tour dates below.
It’s already been a busy year for the rising artist – Riovaz kicked off his first headlining sold out, RIORAVE tour and performed to wild crowds in Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Orlando, Atlanta, and New York before wrapping in Chicago. He also went overseas for three additional shows and performed at Pharrell Williams’ Something In The Water. Now, with “waiting alonE,” Rio challenges himself to delve into darker territory while still delivering another highly danceable, instantly catchy anthem.
RIORAVE II: DISTURB THE NORM TOUR DATES:
Saturday, September 9, 2023 | Vancouver, BC | Fortune Sound Club |
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | Seattle, WA | Madame Lou’s |
Thursday, September 14, 2023 | Portland, OR | Holocene |
Friday, September 15, 2023 | San Francisco, CA | Rickshaw Stop |
Saturday, September 16, 2023 | Los Angeles, CA | The Roxy |
Sunday, September 17, 2023 | Santa Ana, CA | Constellation Room |
Monday, September 18, 2023 | Phoenix, AZ | The Rebel Lounge |
Saturday, September 23, 2023 | Austin, TX | Parish |
Tuesday, September 26, 2023 | Chicago, IL | Subterranean |
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 | Detroit, MI | The Pike Room |
Thursday, September 28, 2023 | Toronto, ON | The Velvet Underground |
Sunday, October 1, 2023 | Montreal, QC | Petit Campus |
Tuesday, October 3, 2023 | Washington, DC | Songbyrd |
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 | Cambridge, MA | Middle East Upstairs |
Friday, October 6, 2023 | Philadelphia, PA | The Foundry at The Fillmore |
Saturday, October 7, 2023 | New York, NY | Gramercy Theater |
PRAISE FOR RIOVAZ:
“Instantly-catchy” – Our Generation
“cathartic dance perfection” – Ones To Watch
“natural talent for creating mind-blowing auditory experiences” – Ones To Watch
“irrepressible 18-year-old dance king” – Billboard
“You’d never know that he’s played fewer than 20 shows in his life. He has the onstage ease of a veteran, as if, like his childhood idol Michael Jackson, he was born to be there.” – Billboard
“Riovaz’s future will likely see him continue to have the world at his feet” – EUPHORIA
“immersive, relatable, and highly danceable music” – Dancing Astronaut
“Boundless in his craft and sound” – OFFICE Magazine