Riton – Interview

Riton è uno dei dj più camaleontici in circolazione: non soltanto esplora generi ed etichette delle più diverse specie, lasciando la sua impronta ovunque passi, ma ama buttarsi in progetti multipli e paralleli sia in solitaria che con i colleghi più affermati della scena. Il suo terreno fertile rimane l’elettronica, ma si è concesso incursioni nel rock, nel pop e nella dance senza illudere né deludere mai l’ascoltatore. Delle sue uscite recenti, senza avventurarci nel profondo del suo passato fatto di successi enormi come quelli raggiunti con Carte Blanche, qui da DLSO abbiamo apprezzato tantissimo il b2b Symphony Hall, in collaborazione con Canblaster dei francesi Club Cheval, che con One Night Stand EP ci ha regalato due belle tracce dai bassi sabbiosi e futuristici in pieno stile Marble (te la ricordi l’intervista che abbiamo fatto a Surkin?).

Ora, poiché t’abbiamo abituato bene, dopo The Magician potevamo mica proporti l’intervista al figlio della casalinga di Voghera con ambizioni da produttore. È con tutto il piacere e l’onore che presentiamo di seguito la chiacchierata che abbiamo fatto con Henry Smithson e ti facciamo ancora più felice dicendoti che potrai sentirlo questo venerdì al Tunnel di Milano grazie a Le Cannibale. La crew è ormai così brava a mantenere alta la qualità musicale della sua offerta da essere diventata quasi noiosa.

1) Hi Henry, please introduce yourself to our readers.
Hello i’m henry i make music under the names Riton, Carte Blanche, Eine Kliene Nacht Musik and Symphony Hall to name a few.

2) You started djing in a club of your native town, the Shinding, in Newcastle. How do you remember those moments and how did you arrive there? Do you miss the excitement of the beginning?
There’s always new in dance music thats why i never lose that feeling of hearing something new and groundbreaking or just plain great music, no other medium has that effect – so no, i don’t miss that feeling – there’s always more to learn anyway.

3) You menaged your own club for a while, the Druzzi’s Baltimore Rave Club in London. What kind of atmospehere did you try to re-create? What were your inspirational bench-mark when you decided to open it?
This club isn’t running anymore thats from a while ago – but it was basically just a mid week tear up with friends – nice small crazy crowd – we were just doing it because we thought the city needed it!

4) From your first album, Beats Du Jour, to the second one, Homies and Homos, there’s a remarkable difference in the vocal part of the songs. And the mood changed again with Dark Place/A.C.P. How could you resume your taste and influnces’ evolution in your artistic career?
That’s hard to say – but i think theres a thread thru the whole of my music- when i made the homies lp it was when bands where alot bigger and that whole side of electronic and rock and disco was mashed up – it was music of that period i hope – plus all my music just relfects what im in to at that moment.

5) Let’s talk about one of your numerous side projects. The most odd thing i’ve heard from your music portfolio is La Serenissima, a track that you edited under the pseudnym of Eine Kleine Nacht Musik for Modular Rec. How did it come to your mind to take and re-editing a classical song by Rondò Veneziano in a club song?
Actually it’s a cover version not a re-edit – i recorded a string section for that im quite proud to say! Rondò Veneziano made a whole LP which is quite good – worth a listen.. actually it was his idea to try and make a ‘pop’ version of classical music in the early 80’s.

6) I know that you and Surkin have a big track featuring AlunaGeorge coming out early next year. Have you got any hot news about it for our followers?
That’s a nice slow jam – it will be out in the next few months – i’ll let you know when it’s out :)

7) What label would you bet on for 2013?
I’m going for Ed Banger – cos im going to focus on putting my music out with them from now on – there amazing to work with and there my french crew who i need an excuse to visit from time to time :)

8) We generally finish our interviews asking to the artist to recommend us an album or a song. This time i want to ask you what magazine/webzine/blog you follow for always being up-to-date about music (aside from Dance Like Shaquille O’Neal).
This is my type of website cos im a dooshbag – www.lememe.com – enjoy!