Winnipeg, MB-based electro indie-pop artist Jeff Fettes aka Riotron has recently unveiled a new single, “There For You” from his upcoming debut EP, Dark Highway, to be released later this year.
“There For You is about how thinking of the people we love can bring them to us any time we need them. It doesn’t have to be spiritual or metaphysical it’s just the power of our memories,” says Fettes. “When you can’t be with them physically, they can still be there for you across time and space. It sounds cosmic but it’s really kind of simple and comforting.”
Check out the single below and find out more about Riotron via our Five Questions With segment.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi, I’m Jeff from Winnipeg but when I’m making music I go by Riotron. This is all very new to me. A few months ago, I wrote a song called “I’m Sorry” and put it out there. I guess it resonated with some people and suddenly I’m doing music and people are calling and it’s weird and great. I’m having a lot of fun and I feel really fortunate.
Tell us a bit about your music and writing style.
My current music is new wave-inspired, a mixture of live drums and guitar with electronic stuff swirled in. I like music that you can sing along to but that also makes you think.
I usually find songs come to me randomly. A single phrase will pop into my head and then I’ll start to question why I was thinking it and then that inner dialogue becomes lyrics on a topic I didn’t even know I wanted to write about. I’ll sing it in my mind until eventually, it all comes together as a song. I’m not sure what that writing style is called but it’s my creative process.
Do you have any upcoming shows? For someone who has yet to see you live, how would you explain your live performance?
I don’t have any live shows on the calendar but I do have some music videos coming and some of them are performance style. I’m hoping to have a plan for live shows later this year if I have time.
If you were asked to suggest only one of your songs for someone to hear, which would it be?
I guess I’d suggest “There For You” my new single. I only have two songs out so it’s not a terribly difficult choice LOL. It’s Valentine’s Day and “There For You” is about love. Love through the lens of commitment.
Canadian Beats is all about Canadian music, so who are your current favourite Canadian bands/ artists?
I love the new EP from The Weeknd so much. Delaney Jane is really cool. I’m excited than Jann Arden is finally getting into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Her songwriting is incredible. In Calgary, there’s a new artist named Hayden McHugh that I really like. There’s also definitely an interesting vibe going on right now locally in Winnipeg. ‘Life of Kai’, ‘Flamenco Sketch’ and ‘Vikings’ are all doing interesting things. Check them out!
Thanks again for having me. Really been enjoying Canadian Beats!