The man who was always there
British producer, musician and DJ, Henry Smithson (aka Riton) is one of the most relevant figures in the electronic and new pop scene since he started in the late 90’s. We caught up with him in London and talked about music, life and being a Grammy winner.
Words David Saavedra Photography JC Verona Styling Kate Barbour Groming Paris France
Maybe you’ve never recognised Riton if you’d see him in the streets, but you should probably have listened to some of the tracks he has written, mixed or produced. Try “Rinse & Repeat” with Kah-Lo, Silk City’s “Electricity” (ft. Dua Lipa) or, specially, “Friday”: one of this year’s greatest hits in Europe, thanks to his ability to build the song over a really catchy sample of Nightcrawlers’ “Push The Feeling On”.
Riton is the artist name of Henry Smithson, a man born in Newcastle 42 years ago. After finishing University, in the late 90’s, he started DJing at the legendary Shindig club, he created his own label, Switch Recordings, and released his first singles. “It was the early days of rave music back in Newcastle, you could see the fashion and hear the music all over if you were looking for it”, he remembers. “Shindig was where I first got in to working in clubs, and the stuff I learned musically then has carried into my work to this day. That was more of a house and techno club”. Then he moved to Manchester and started to work in Fat City Records. “That’s where I was playing mostly hip hop and then disco and eventually back to house again”, he says.
“I was DJing constantly for 25 years, so I’m always buying new music and that keeps you sharp, I think.”
When you compare this kind of old school background with his current trends (check out, for instance, KUU, the project he shares with Alex Metric and Shungudzo), you can feel surprised for his strong pop feel and his ability to connect with the younger audiences. No big deal, as he suggests. “I was DJing constantly for 25 years, so I’m always buying new music and that keeps you sharp, I think. Also, I do have a certain taste in music, so I’m listening to loads of it all the time. Mostly skipping over the shit, but still slightly absorbing it. Basically, there isn’t that much great stuff, so, as long as you have an okay taste, you can stay in touch with new sounds. And although I am making pop music, it has to be on my terms, so there’s a balance between it being commercial but also coming from a decent place, I hope!”. In fact, when asked about the current state of electronic music, he doesn’t seem very enthusiastic. “All sounds the same to me now. There’s great music I love, and it doesn’t always have to be brand new styles, but it is pretty much the same shit organised in a different way”.
“I wasn’t motivated for a few months, just was grinding me down being stuck in the house, like everyone, but I decided to move my studio to a new location and, as soon as I did that, I was back at it again.”
The enforced pause last year was a low point at the beginning. “I wouldn’t say it was a great time to be making music. I wasn’t motivated for a few months, just was grinding me down being stuck in the house, like everyone, but I decided to move my studio to a new location and, as soon as I did that, I was back at it again. Actually this has been a pretty good year for releases, so I must have been busy!”. He’s looking forward for the release of his new single with Raye (“a nice little bumper track called “I Don’t Want You””, out September 4th) plus a few clubby tracks and more pop stuff too. “I’m just working away as usual. Sometimes things take two or three years before they come out”, he informs.
Riton keeps his multidisciplinary profile in a very natural way. “I actually think the whole thing is so entangled with each other that I don’t really see very much difference between remixing, producing and being an artist, they all kind of come from the same place. Possibly you can have an easier time producing, because you’re not entirely responsible for the finished product, but you are sometimes second guessing what people want “, he suggests. “As I work on my own a lot I find them pretty similar experiences, but on the subject of DJing that’s really a pleasure as soon as you have everything musically prepared, and you’ve made your journey to wherever you have been invited”.
“I don’t really see very much difference between remixing, producing and being an artist, they all kind of come from the same place.”
Although you may not recognise this man the next time you see him somewhere, let me finish telling you he’s a Grammy Award winner, as co-producer for “Electricity” (Best Dance Recording in 2018). How relevant is that for him? “Quite amazing, actually. It wasn’t a goal but, after the first nomination (for “Rinse & Repeat” in 2016), myself and Kah-Lo went and it was fun. When I went for the second time, I can tell you it feels very very good. It’s nice to have something to show to your mother too!”.
Riton is releasing a new single with Raye a track called “I Don’t Want You”, coming out September 4th. Plus a lot more new music. Stay updated with Riton’s new music, gigs and follow him on Instagram
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