Composed over the last two years during a period of uncertainty and fear, the new album, THRIVE from RIOPY, “represents the inner strength that pushes us to fight in moments of doubt or sorrow.” Scheduled for release on 14 April through Warner Music Group , THRIVE comes as the pianist-composer RIOPY shares the first single ‘Nocturne’ and its official video. Watch HERE. RIOPY also prepares to embark on his first major UK tour, with ten dates in London, Bristol, Manchester, Gateshead, Leeds, Edinburgh, Bury St Edmunds, Coventry, Canterbury and Southampton between 1 and 12 February.
RIOPY came to music in an extraordinary and unusual way. Escaping to the UK following a childhood spent in an oppressive French cult, his fortunes changed when he was given an opportunity to study at Oxford Brookes University, and then gifted a Steinway piano by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, who recognised his need and potential. He has since channelled his troubled past – which included drug and alcohol abuse brought on by depression and anxiety – into his music, which now serves as a source of solace to millions around the world.
Lana Del Rey recently announced that she has adapted one of RIOPY’s compositions. His meditative piano playing and melody will feature on a track on the American singer-songwriter’s next album, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd, coming March 10th. When announcing the new album, the singer thanked RIOPY “for lending me your subtle piano compositions that are infused with melodies I only wish I could dream up”. Details will be confirmed at a later date.
THRIVE marks the beginning of a new chapter for RIOPY. It will be the first of his albums to include strings alongside his evocative and powerful pianism which has earned him an ever-increasing international following.
RIOPY explains, “One day, I was playing Satie’s famous Gymnopédie and kept expanding it and from that little seed, THRIVE was born. In taking inspiration from the greatest classical composers, I wanted to show how I interpret and shape their music in my mind.”
As well as new compositions for solo piano, the album features the composer-pianist’s take on famous music which has most inspired him, including works by Satie, Pachelbel, Beethoven, Fauré, Debussy and Chopin. He has transformed their much-loved melodies into cinematic scores of his own, and composed lush arrangements for string orchestra.
RIOPY adds, “The piano has always helped me find this momentum, this inner strength, and composing for strings has opened up new horizons for me. The reinterpreted melodies on this album are a metaphor to show that everything can evolve.”
The album will be available digitally, on CD and on vinyl.
More information about RIOPY’s upcoming tour dates is available here, and a pre-order link is available here.
The full list of live dates are (with support from Adam Naas):
FEBRUARY 2023
Wed 1 LONDON Cadogan Hall
Thu 2 BRISTOL St Georges
Fri 3 MANCHESTER Stoller Hall
Sat 4 GATESHEAD Sage
Sun 5 LEEDS Howard Assembly Room
Wed 8 EDINBURGH Queens Hall
Thu 9 BURY ST EDMUNDS Apex
Fri 10 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre
Sat 11 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian
Sun 12 SOUTHAMPTON Turner Sims Concert Hall
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