Riovaz

Riovaz, whose moniker is a riff on the word “Savior,” is a New Jersey-born songwriter and producer who melds multiple pop, R&B, rap, and dance music sub-genres into his distinct brand of electronic-leaning pop music. He broke into the mainstream in 2020 with the brooding, club-ready “Prom Night,” which landed him a deal with Darkroom/Geffen. He continued to refine and reshape his sound on subsequent efforts like 2021′s heartache-fueled “I Feel Fantastic,” 2022′s dark and dreamy “You’re a Parasite,” and 2023′s buoyant, skaiwater-assisted “Hypnotized,” the latter of which appeared on the EP Disturb the Norm.
Born and raised in Jersey City, Riovaz grew up in a musical household with parents who filled the airwaves with Argentinian alternative rock and Michael Jackson songs. By 13, he was making his own songs on Garageband, and just five years later, he watched his breakthrough hit, “Prom Night,” blow up online and elicit millions of streams. Upon signing to Darkroom/Geffen (Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Yungblud), he issued a string of streaming hits, including “You’re a Parasite” and “Tell Me All Your Fears,” that paired elements of drum’n’bass, lilting R&B-infused pop, post-punk, and house with lyrics about the myriad growing pains of teen life. His 2023 EP, Disturb the Norm, continued to resonate with listeners, delivering heartfelt dance anthems that bristled with relatable angst. ~ James Christopher Monger