Ritho took some time to answer our questions about his music and how he makes it. Let’s see what Ritho has to say!
First off, What’s up with your name? Is there a story behind it?
Sadly Ritho is not a stage name that is just the one I was born with, otherwise I would have came up with another one far cooler.
Tell us about your musical past, would you tell us about your early years?
I learnt how to play music by copying. I used to go through my dad’s old records or my sister’s iPod classic and just work out how to play songs that I loved. At the beginning it was painstakingly long because I would go through note by note on the guitar and keep on rewinding it till I got it right and I just did that days on end till I could play the whole song on the guitar. Then I wanted to learn it on the piano so I could play it like the band or Artist did. Then after a long time I just got better at doing it till it was almost second nature, but it was having the freedom to learn whatever I wanted that I just got obsessed with.
How would you describe your sound?
An honest insight into my intrusive thoughts and my mind, tied together with catchy melodies and some big drums.
Which artists have the biggest influence on your sound?
I would say bands that I grew up on like Paramore, Foo Fighters and Sam Cooke but more recently Sam Fender, Dominic Fike and EASYLIFE.
What’s the last song you listened to?
‘Hollaback Girl’ by Gwen Stefani. I really wish it was something cooler but it is on now and I’m loving every second.
What’s your source for hearing new music?
I would say playlists and mates. I have a couple of friends who love sending me new music and their taste is great. Apart from that I am a sucker for a good Spotify curated playlist.
Who is your dream producer?
I would say either Rick Rubin or Damon Albarn. I am huge fans of both of them and I love that I think they wouldn’t be afraid to create something that is not ‘on trend’.
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
Hayley Williams from Paramore would be awesome. I am just such a fan of her work and her as a person.
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What led you to music, and what motivates you to keep making it?
I fell into music because I never felt like I connected with much of the music I was listening too at the time. It was all about the girl next door getting the ‘jock’ and all of that – it was just never me, so I just decided to write music for the awkward kids or the ones that just feel out of place. My motivation is just that it is therapy for me, everything is an honest insight into me and even if I never got anywhere with it professionally I would still doing the exact same thing.
Tell us about the songwriting process. How does it all come together?
I think a lot and it seems like the only way I can get thoughts or feelings out is by doing this. It normally consists of me either venting on a piece of paper or I produce out a ‘world’ that a feeling can live in, then I just try to make it rhyme.
How do you connect with your audience? What is the easiest way for them to connect with you?
Social media is awesome because I can literally see directly what people are saying but also by doing live shows. It feels very much like a conversation when I do them and I always stick around for a chat after.
What’s next for you?
I have 2 more singles coming out, the next being ‘Never Fall In Love’ which is out on the 30th of June, then another coming out the following month, which is all leading up to my EP, which is being released in September. If you wanted to hear the EP before it is released however, I am doing a ‘pre-release’ show on the 1st of July at The Camden Assembly.
