EDM producer Riton shares political anthem ‘Let’s Stick Around’
Electronic music powerhouse Riton released a collaboration between Gucci Soundsystem (his long standing project with Ben Rymer) and Jarvis Cocker to coincide with the conclusion of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), and now hot off the back of a stellar performance at Glasgow’s Barrowlands, Cocker stars in the project’s video, directed by Tim and Barry and launched on CRACK magazine. Having already received avid radio support from the likes of 6 Music’s Huw Stephens, Tom Ravenscroft, Amy Lamé and Lauren Laverne, ‘Let’s Stick Around’ fuses Riton’s all-enveloping sound design with Cocker’s inimitable vocals – in Cocker’s own words; “‘Let’s Stick Around is the world’s first sustainable banger”.
The serendipitous timing of this project’s release allowed for an extremely topical video to be filmed on the premises of this year’s climate change conference. Directors Tim and Barry explore abandoned markets with Jarvis Cocker in full theatrical flow, dancing, limbs akimbo, to the track. Meanwhile, the wraparound segments take place on the bustling streets of Glasgow, with interviews with protesters delivering an emotionally charged statement piece for the conservation of our planet. Tim and Barry have been key to the development of Youtube media content in the U.K, being the first to upload a freestyle for grime kingpin Giggs, before going on to feature content from JME, Tempa T and Chip to name a few – a true grassroots British music platform.
Ben Rymer speaks on the collaboration – “When we started making the film, I couldn’t believe my luck getting Tim and Barry on board to film Jarv. The performance is sick and it looks amazing but by far the best bit of making this film was meeting the protestors on the ground at Cop 26. All of them were so eloquent and totally at odds with the way they are portrayed on telly. They’re just ordinary people who are scared like the rest of us, the difference is they’ve decided to not let things get them down. Like the song says”.
Tim and Barry walk us through the production – “We were approached to shoot the video by producer Ben Rymer, who had an idea of platforming Cop26 protesters in a positive light, which we thought was a great idea. When we found out Jarvis was performing in Glasgow during Cop, we decided to supplement this with a live one take performance video of Jarvis in the style of our no miming series”.
“Let’s Stick Around” is a sonic odyssey – the bassline appears to rebound through the mix with sheer dancefloor intent, gently rumbling towards a crescendo of sawtooth synths guaranteed to put a wry smile on the face of club goers. The hypnotic manner of Cocker’s vocal contribution feels natural atop the twisting house rhythm. The arrangement evolves excitedly through gliding space-age pads and laser sharpened hi-hats, opening up the floodgates to a flurry of bright synth tones and colourful piano stabs towards the latter end of the track.
Riton’s club tracks are defining a generation – and keeping them dancing into the early hours. He’s firmly found his feet atop the charts thanks to the GRAMMY nominated hit ‘Rinse & Repeat’. Further singles such as ‘Turn Me On’ garnered over 300 million streams, steadily placing him amongst the titans of streaming. He also co-produced on the Dua Lipa and Silk City single ‘Electricity’, a smash that went on to win the GRAMMY for ‘Best Dance Recording’, proving his ability to consistently evolve in an ever-growing crowded market. His influence across U.K. club culture is vast, spanning decades and a wide myriad of sounds and scenes, connecting the dots between electroclash and electro-house, UK bass and hip-house, and injecting club music with jagged and energetic aura. The mid 2000’s saw Riton ally with The Fat Truckers band member Ben Rymer – birthing the Gucci Soundsystem project. They have released projects on James Murphy’s DFA, Bugged Out! Recordings and Ministry of Sound. Jarvis Cocker has been at the forefront of British music culture for three decades as the lyricist and founder of the legendary band Pulp. The multifaceted figurehead has curated festivals and spearheaded a plethora of other successful music projects whilst regularly hosting for BBC Radio 6.
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Image credit: Jordan Curtis Hughes
