Welcome back to our segment FYNE PRINT — a series where guests give insight into their work, and say it all with a song — indirectly curating a playlist for us. Following his new single “Bleed Belief”, this edition maps out Riovaz’s journey to the Northstar.
By Ike Nabuife
TikTok reshaping the music world… touring out of New Jersey… broken hearts on prom night… Riovaz has seen it all since first joining SoundCloud at 13. A true child of the internet, his sound captures the youth and curiosity of a generation as viral as it is niche. For those who feel displaced in their everyday lives, the internet can be their first hit of community. It’s a first chance for many to connect to something larger than themselves or see people like them.
“At my last LA show, a guy in the front row held up an Ecuadorian soccer jersey. At almost every show, people bring Ecuadorian flags—even if they’re not Ecuadorian. They just show up because I am. I think that’s really cool. I have a big Latino fan base—Mexicans, Hondurans—and I think it’s cool because they see themselves in me. I’m showing up for them, and that’s what I want to do.“
The internet can also be an indomitable sea — a force of nature that erodes the mind. For those lost at sea, it can be easy to feel lost and alone, but sometimes we forget that we all look up at the same sky. The Northstar can be a guiding light — a beacon amidst the darkness.
Being in Norway with the Northern Lights… I went there last year with Frankie Skoka. We stayed for two weeks, recording in a studio by the beach. That time was about finding myself and figuring out my next direction after dropping my last project. That’s usually how it is after a release. That trip really inspired everything.
– Riovaz
At only 22, Riovaz finds himself a defining voice in the anachronistic indieground generation — now dominated by the likes of bunii, Kid Moon, and aeter — where everything from shoegaze to pluggnb to folk seem to intersect. With the emotive new single “bleed belief”, he separates himself by fully stepping into the light of the Northstar and spotlighting vulnerability in his writing. The track comes ahead of the EP Follow the Northstar, produced by him and Frankie Skoka.
We caught up with Riovaz to discuss his journey to Northstar.
What do you think about the album format? Do you prefer bite-sized projects like EPs or bigger formats when it comes to releasing music?
Riovaz: I think people are appreciating albums more, but I can’t fully tell. Sometimes I see people skipping through them. It feels like it’s half and half. I think we’re moving toward appreciating projects more than singles, but I’m not sure. People’s attention spans are fried, sometimes.
Ike Nabuife: It ties back to PinkPantheress getting criticized for saying most songs don’t need to be longer than two or three minutes. People also talk about bridges falling out of style.
Riovaz: Yeah, she did say that, but when I listen to Jane Remover, they have songs that are like five minutes, and I love that.
IN: Which era of Jane Remover is your favorite?
Riovaz: I’ll never forget—what’s that project? It’s from 2021 or 2020. Frailty! That era was so fire. I was also listening to a lot of osquinn at the time. That’s my GOAT.
IN: They dropped a bunch of EPs last year that I really liked.
Riovaz: Yeah, they drop a lot with FearDorian. I fuck heavy with him.
Favorite dance track?
Riovaz: I listen to a lot of Loukeman. The song is “Took a Turn.” Also “yayarave” by Ian Mills. That makes me feel like my life is a movie.
IN: I read that you’re really into movies. What’s your dream music video? Or is there a movie that pairs well with your music?
Riovaz: My favorite movie is Boyhood. The fact that it was filmed over 12 years is insane. I think it would be amazing to make a music video like that—filming over 10 years and watching yourself grow, then turning it into one video.
A song that reminds you of spring?
Riovaz: I’d say the Underscores album — specifically “Innuendo (I Get You).” That whole project feels like spring.
IN: Did you listen to the whole new Underscores album?
Riovaz: It’s so good. I can’t stop.
IN: Where would you rank it in their discography?
Riovaz: I don’t know. I think I like the older stuff better, but this one is more polished. It gives me more K-pop vibes. It’s very pop compared to their earlier work.
IN: I hear that on songs like “Do It,” especially.
Riovaz: Yeah, I love the direction.
Favorite Latin song?
Riovaz: I have a lot. One is “Déjame Participar en Tu Juego” by Los Toros Band. Another is “No Voy a Llorar” by Yao.
IN: When it comes to Latin music and representation in pop culture, where do you feel like you fit? Especially with artists like Rosalía getting bigger and Bad Bunny doing the halftime show.
Riovaz: I want to bring more of my Hispanic roots into my music. I haven’t fully done that yet, aside from covers. I did a cover of “Lamento Boliviano,” but I haven’t shown that side enough. I want to, though. That time will come.
Favorite song to test headphones or speakers?
Riovaz: “Vivid Light” by Blood Orange.
IN: I love that project. It feels like a happy place — really therapeutic. You can hear the pain from his upbringing and how the music becomes an escape.
Riovaz: It’s beautiful how he builds his projects.
Do you have a song that reminds you of your favorite person?
Riovaz: “smile thru it all” by aldn.
Song you wish you wrote?
Riovaz: Yeah, I have a lot. One is “I’d Rather Be Yours Than Mine” by Sophia Stel. She’s really good. Another is “Crush” by Jai Paul.
IN: I miss Jai Paul so much.
Riovaz: He’s incredible. I saw him live.
IN: You saw him live?
Riovaz: Yeah, in 2023, I think. My agent works with him, and this was when he was just coming back. He played at Brooklyn Steel. It was life-changing.
IN: I can only imagine. How did you get into Jai Paul?
Riovaz: It was that concert. I knew about him before, but seeing him live made me really dive in. That’s what live shows do—when you see an artist live, it makes you want to explore their music more.
IN: What’s your experience with performing live?
Riovaz: It’s my favorite thing in the world. That’s what I do this for.
IN: Do you have a favorite concert you’ve done?
Riovaz: Yeah, my last one. I played Elsewhere in New York, and it was insane. It was my biggest New York show. People really showed out. It was special because I had canceled my tour before that and hadn’t been posting or dropping music. Then I announced that show, and people still came through. It’s crazy seeing that support years into doing this.
SoundFynd 