Riovaz Seeks to ‘Disturb The Norm’ in Intoxicating New EP
Photo: Kayla Menze
Riovaz has delivered cathartic dance perfection. The New Jersey native's long-awaited EP Disturb The Norm is a kaleidoscopic journey through love, hate, self-reflection, and more, showcasing his growth and natural talent for creating mind-blowing auditory experiences.
"This project is a self-reflection on my artistry and shows the arc of what I am and have created as a musician. The correct way to listen to Disturb The Norm is in order, or else you won't understand what the future holds for us," shares Riovaz.
The record opens with the tropical and dreamy "Until It's Real." It's a feverish dance track that lures listeners in with its engaging, intricate layers featuring bone-rattling beats and atmospheric samples. We're then led into the propulsive and poignant dance anthem "Hypnotized," featuring skaiwater, highlighting the 18-year-old's songwriting and originality. "And I can't seem to keep you away, and I can't seem to put it to bed," Riovaz sings over clicking beats and chirping effects. Soaring and seductive, the track finds the singer at his most vulnerable and enigmatic. "It's the song that clubs need to have on rotation," Riovaz shares, "This song is an audio representation of that part of your night out at the rave that you don't remember the next day. Skai being the only feature represents my world as an artist and the community I was lucky enough to come up with."
"U Neva" is a fiery house track that doesn't lose its ability to make a broken heart soar. Underneath its rich electronic arrangement, Riovaz sings of a lover that's gotten so wrapped up and lost in him that she can't see that their relationship is not entirely mutual. The line, "I let her think we're in love," is followed by an intoxicating chorus that repeats her calling out his false promise, "You never cared at all." However, amid the chaos of a dizzying orchestra, Riovaz still maintains an emotional density that is never compromised.
"Tantrum (Pace Yourself)" shows his softer side, opening with pulsing percussion and sleek synths and hooking listeners with its addictive and bold sonics. Then, Riovaz's emotive vocals chime in, sharing how he knows the people in his life don't "think the same as me." A collage of droning beats and synths elevates listeners into ecstasy as Riovaz describes how people watch his every move. However, instead of falling victim to self-doubt, Riovaz confidently asserts that he's "tired of comparisons / I'm who I wanna be." The 18-year-old hitmaker proudly declares he has no intention of changing who he is or his artistry for anyone else's sake.
Other standouts include the otherworldy "As If It's Not Bad Enough," the thrashing, punk-influenced "HeartStrung," and the existential "Can't Keep Myself Intact," taking us through a rollercoaster of soundscapes and emotions before delivering us to the record's outro, the aptly named, "Grown Hatred For You-Outro." The finale opens with Riovaz's stand-alone vocals, explaining to listeners, "And choices, I've made choices they're far different." Intensifying drums, bass lines, and suspended guitar riffs seep into the background, eventually exploding into a flurry of rage as he screams, "Set me free."
Disturb The Norm is an intoxicating culmination of a journey that began with the 2020 pop earworm "Prom Night," which reeled in more than 126 million Spotify streams and proved sticky on TikTok. This month, the New Jersey native kicked off his headline and sold out 'RIORAVE' tour on February 2 to a wild crowd in Los Angeles. After snaking through states such as Texas, Florida, Georgia, and New York, he'll finally wrap up in Chicago. The young artist is set to take the pulse-pounding party overseas for three more March shows.
Listen to Disturb the Norm below:
