Bringing in Tapes #124 is Riva, the Berlin and London-based DJ, producer, promoter, and resident DJ at Fold, Refuge Radio and Manni Dee’s newest party “Silk + Steel”.

Her music does not hinge on one genre as Riva sees music as a form of storytelling, protest and is always on the hunt for rhythms that can spread a message, unify and emancipate the listener on the dancefloor.

TRACKLIST

Konbanwa (Ibiza Mix) - Paramida 
Outdoor Dance - Reflex Blue 
Who Let The Girls Out - Maara 
Chocy’s Paradise - Duo Paradiso 
Higher Vision - Bliss Inc 
Ex Machina (Trance Mix) - Baldo 
X83 (Jex Opolis Remix) - Known Artist
Midnight (Bliss Inc Remix) - Match Box 
Speed Sky - Mohajer & Lawrence Lee
Unnatural Groove - Ollie Lishman 
On The Right Track - Jon Hemming

Hey Riva - great to have you on the series! Can you start by introducing yourself for those who don’t know?

Thanks for the invite. Hey everyone, I’m Riva. I am a DJ and producer based between London and Berlin. I love all genres of music, from electronic music such as house, techno, acid, bass to psychedelic rock, hip hop, rnb and classical music. Growing up in the Middle East, my access to global music was limited and my exposure to different genres came from what different people showed me. I fell in love with Goa trance, for example, when I was 12 after listening to my parents CDs. Music therefore became this portal to different parts of the world and experiences that I did not have access to at the time and I’ve been obsessed ever since.

Tell us about this mix - favourite track inside?

I’m really waiting for the winter to end and this mix makes me feel like I am floating somewhere warm, euphoric and bouncy. The mix is a collection of tunes that soundtrack my mental escape from grey, rainy skies to somewhere softer, where the mood is simpler and lighter. I’m really into all the tracks in the mix but one I can’t stop rinsing is the penultimate track by Ollie Lishman. He’s so talented and I really like the vocals and journey of the track. It is how I imagine the disco revolution in the 70s might have felt like - dancing to electronic music that is soulful. Kinda reminds me of works by artists like Donna Summer and Patrick Cowley.

What’s the ideal setting to listen to it?

Probably somewhere where you can switch off and connect to yourself.

From working with South-Asian collective Daytimers to being a resident at FOLD - you’ve become an integral part to the underground music scene in London. Can you tell us more about these projects and your involvement in them?

Ahaha, thank you, that is very kind. Both projects come from my desire to use music as a tool to further socio-political causes, an opportunity to show non-Western sounds and challenge norms about who can be an artist (not always white straight dudes, please). Music has been very educational to me; I remember  when I heard “goutli bye bye” a track by Nordine Staifi (for example), I learned about his experiences in France as an Algerian immigrant and how different schools of music can work in synergy together - in this case Algerian vocals over a funk guitar or synth lines. Similarly, through Patrick Cowley's music I learned about the impact of the HIV/AIDs crisis. It was that curiosity and desire to see what “bigger” messages or lessons I could learn from music that got me into djing. Back in 2021, I wanted to do something for the Farmers Protest in Punjab. I worked with Daytimers and No Nazar to organise a fundraiser that raised over £15k and really spread the word about what was happening. Thereafter, I worked with Big Dyke Energy to create an EP called “For the Community, By the Community” an album created and presented by all queer artists. The EP opens with a poem by the incredible Nivetha Tiakkumarabout queerness in a non-Western country and ends with a poem by Teecra about trans liberation. It was just so moving. 

From that point on, I realised how music can be a tool through which I can educate myself and others and more importantly push causes I think are important. Music has always been intentional to me, every sound I hear or performance I attend feels like an intentional presentation of the artist’s vision, message or cause. I have therefore tried to keep that ethos throughout my time as an artist. Becoming a FOLD resident and having the opportunity to contribute to the incredible work of the club was a chance to continue to live those values with like minded people. FOLD is incredibly supportive and has helped me grow as an artist in so many ways, making me feel so empowered in a scene that is predominantly white / male focused and sometimes kinda snobby. The work that FOLD does speaks for itself alongside its continued commitment to furthering important causes. Working on “Rethinking Nightlife”, where I was able to use FOLD’s reach and resources to push forward a very important topic was one of many moments where I could continue my aim of being as intentional as possible with my involvement in music. Lastly, it goes without saying that being a queer South Asian techno DJ is hardly the norm and wanting to challenge this was very important to me.


Favourite city for partying?

Tokyo.

What’s your go-to closing track at the moment?

ST by Donato Dozzy.


Lastly, any exciting things in the pipeline to shout about?

Really excited to be returning to the third edition Silk+Steel with Manni Dee which takes place on 27th April at Fold.