The Mix 104: riria

Sometimes it feels like the global garage resurgence just can’t balloon any bigger than it already has. Reaching peak after peak since its return to the big stage and chart-topping successes just a few years ago, every summer is now a UKG summer. But just when you think it can’t go any more supersonic, another UK bass torchbearer steps in to take it to the next level.

You’ll already know the names behind the well-documented garage renaissance: Interplanetary Criminal, Eliza Rose, Silva Bumpa, Oppidan, NOTION – the list goes on. But just last year, a new soldier of the scene took charge, breaking through with her first major livestreamed DJ set, since watched by almost five million people around the world. It was a turning point for Tokyo-born riria, who now resides in London, after almost 10 years DJing. “Suddenly, things started happening that I couldn’t have imagined before,” she says.

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That set was a real tour-de-force, catapulting her to the dizzy heights of UK garage greatness and, with it, helping to boost the streams of tracks she spun in its short 45-minutes, namely Foxela’s Jersey club remix of NewJeans’ ‘ETA’ and Damso’s French rap banger ‘TieksVie’. It also brandished her immaculate ability to blend a wide array of electronic styles, from UKG into reggaeton, amapiano into Jersey club.

Since then, riria has been everywhere. From Beijing one weekend to Glastonbury the next, it’s been nothing short of a whirlwind year for the rising bass star. After embarking on a European tour in April, we caught up with riria to talk digging through strangers’ SoundCloud collections, staying true to her instincts, and helping producers’ tracks go viral with her breakout set. She also shares a full-throttle club mix paying homage to the UK bass music she's been influenced by since moving to London – check it out below.

You started DJing when you were just 16, right? How did you get into it, and what were you playing back then?

Yeah, I started DJing at 16. At the time, I was in a dance club at school and discovered pop and EDM while searching for music to dance to on YouTube. Wanting to connect with people who shared similar tastes, I found a teen-focused event collective on Twitter and became part of it.

While helping out as staff at one of their events, I saw a female DJ playing and thought she looked amazing. That moment made me want to try DJing myself – I was also in high school at the time and wanted to do something a bit different. 

In the beginning, I mainly played bass music and tech-house, and I was heavily influenced by artists like Skrillex, ZEDD, Chris Lake, TroyBoi, DJ Snake, Mija and Alison Wonderland.

At what point did you feel like you broke through and started playing bigger, more far-reaching shows?

I really felt a shift after my first livestream was broadcast worldwide. Suddenly, things started happening that I couldn’t have imagined before. I really felt the impact during my first Asia tour – the energy from the crowd was incredible and made everything feel very real.

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You moved from Tokyo to London in 2022 – what was it like to swap that dance music scene in Japan for another thriving but very different scene here in the UK?

When I first moved to the UK, I remember being shocked by all the event flyers. Artists I admired, as well as legends, were playing somewhere in London every single week – something you don’t really see in Tokyo.

I also feel like people here dance much more freely without worrying about how they look. The variety of venues is another thing I love, from renovated industrial spaces to warehouse settings. It feels more raw and truly underground.

You really blew up last year with a major livestream, and a few of the tracks you played in that set actually went viral as a result. What was that experience like?

It honestly felt crazy. First of all, I want to give a lot of love and appreciation to the producers. It means so much to me that through my set, their music reached a wider audience. That’s something I’m really grateful for.

I know you’ve just finished up a sold-out, two-date show supporting Sammy Virji at Ally Pally. That’s huge, how did it go?

Both shows were so much fun and really valuable experiences for me. I had actually been there two months earlier to see Fred again.., and at the time I couldn’t imagine myself playing on that stage. Since I was doing the opening set, I didn’t feel too much pressure and was able to fully enjoy it. I even caught myself imagining doing my own headline show there one day!

You have a really extensive European tour planned for the next few months. What do you have in store for that? What can fans expect?

Festival season is finally starting, which is always exciting. I’ll be visiting some new cities for the first time, so I’m really looking forward to that. I’m especially excited about Sónar and AVA Festival. I’ll be preparing sets to make sure everyone has a great time, so don’t forget to stay hydrated!

Who are you currently inspired by, and who would you like to work with if you could collaborate with anyone right now?

Right now I’m really inspired by UK garage, so I’ve been incorporating more of it into my sets. Artists like Newsham, ELOQ, Lemtom, Becking, Tom Lechef, SHUFFA, Osmosis Jones, Callto, Ashdunn, Zero, and Champion have been influencing me a lot. I’d also love to play back-to-back again with Saint Ludo, and also with Milion, who I recently met in Manchester. I feel like we share a similar energy.

You play a really eclectic mix of genres and styles in your sets. How do you hunt for new music, and what is your process like in curating mixes?

I mainly discover music on SoundCloud – I often dig through random users’ likes and imagine how I could incorporate those tracks into my sets. I also take inspiration from tracks I hear at festivals and events, especially from other DJ’s sets that leave a strong impression on me.

You said in the past that you always want to “resonate with audiences” and "express your own colours". Can you tell us more about that?

For me, it’s about sharing something unique that only I can bring through my selections and the overall flow of my set. When people connect with that and react in real time, that’s when I feel that resonance. That’s why I always try to stay true to my own taste and instincts.

What’s next for you?

I’ll be touring across Europe throughout spring and summer during festival season. I’m also planning to go back to Japan briefly to see my friends and family. At the moment, my team and I are working on securing a US visa, so something might be happening around September. I’m also planning something for the end of the year – stay tuned!

Can you tell us about your mix?

For my Mixmag mix, I focused heavily on UK garage and included many tracks from the producers I mentioned earlier. It’s designed to be easy to listen to for any mood – even if you’re feeling down, I hope it lifts your energy. Please give it a listen, and hopefully I’ll see you in your city this year!

riria is currently touring Europe. Check out her upcoming tour dates here

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on X

Tracklist:
1. BICEP - Rain (Panar UKG Edit)
2. tschstin - Conditional Dub
3. OP BREAKS - 4 THE MASSIVE
4. Main Phase & Talons - Stalker
5. Jack Rice - Ukg In The Rain (Xjack Edit)
6. Nickolai - Just How You Like It Dub
7. Newsham - Automatic
8. Major Tom - Space Man
9. Becking - Back The Funk
10. Shez Kurx - Get A Lil Stupid Dub
11. Knucks - Hide & Seek (Rob. Edit)
12. Osmosis Jones - Everyday Is A Gunshot
13. Silva Bumpa & Specialist Moss - Hypa
14. KETTAMA - ROK DA HOUSE! (SHUFFA Edit)
15. Locky & Luke Dean - Where's The Party
16. Los del Río - Macarena master 2 (Myach Edit)
17. TOM LECHEF - Maximum
18. Lemtom - Get Up!
19. Champion, Riko Dan & Royal-T - Pull Up
20. Ziggy Ostas - Brighter Days Bootleg
21. ZUKE - fuk da vip
22. Callto - 23 Dub
23. Charlie Boon - We'll Be Back
24. KLEM - SHAKE THAT
25. Wax Thief - Pull Up Dat
26. Millhouse - Horny Dub