bio
R.I.T.C.H.I.E. is a popular Canadian recording artist originally from Nova Scotia. He is an award-nominated performer whose originality and passion is the inspiration for his bold and eclectic musical styles.
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A true storyteller
His "Soul Pop" style blends the music of the 60’s British invasion and 80's new wave, with 90's grunge.
R.I.T.C.H.I.E., whose name is an acronym which stands for “Reality Is The Cause, Humility Is Everything ” uses his life experiences, both painful and triumphant, as lyrics in his songs about growing up different, learning to overcome and looking on into the future with strength and credibility. “We are many voices but we stand as one.”
With the use of live loops and backing tracks, he delivers a full band experience to the audience. His, is a music that encompasses a wide spectrum of human experience. With songs that touch on love, loss and redemption, and a strong ability to dust yourself off, and try again.
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After moving away from Nova Scotia in 2004 to pursue his career options in Toronto, Ontario, he got very involved in the Toronto music scene, working behind the scenes in production as a stagehand and stage manager, learning lighting, audio, rigging and logistics.
This allowed him the chance to study the music industry from the inside out, and apply what he learned to his own music.
He started doing regular gigs in downtown Toronto in 2007, playing at legendary clubs The El Mocambo, The Rivoli, The Big Bop, Reverb, Rancho Relaxo and even The Sound Academy. Also in 2007, he published his first song, "Alibies" as part of a Rock compilation album for Quickstar Productions. But it was his dream, to have his own record label and be able to produce his own music, so he started to teach himself.
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Today, REO MUSIK is an established record label and production house, specializing in all things related to an individual's music career. Owned by R.I.T.C.H.I.E. since 2006, it allowed him to release his first, self-produced studio EP, "Unfaithful" in late 2020, while during lockdown. That album gave birth to 5 all new tracks, including his collaboration with Canadian JUNO award winner JRDN, with the track "I Try". The album is a fluid journey of hate and angst and redemption, carried along by soothing pop and soul riffs, charming vocals and explosive choruses. The alt rock anthem "This Is Mine" is a charged, guitar-driven homage to classic pop punk while "A Streetcar Named I" is an eclectic chorus of multiple tracks of noise, instruments and drums meant to simulate the author's madness.
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R.I.T.C.H.I.E.'s next releases followed in 2021 and 2022, as three new singles dropped, "You Reap What You Sow", a power-pop, beatles-inspired rampage through harmonies and exotic synths ; "When Dark Turns To Day", a breakbeats-fueled piano rocker with a heavy nod to female-led disco anthems, and "TR2D Too Rare To Die", an 80's piano pop rocker in the style of Billy Joel that amps up a story about drugs and a mystic road trip along the open highway.
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2022 and 2023 were a busy time, as not only did he release two new singles, "It All Comes To Pass" and the re-release of his first song, "Alibies" - which spent 15 weeks on the East Coast Top 30 and made it into the Hall Of Fame - but he began to actively play live, including as part the backing band for DeeDee Austin, which brought him to his biggest stages yet, including showcasing at the East Coast Music Awards, performing as part of the Wildfire Benefit Concert at the Scotiabank Centre along with artists like Classified, Matt Mays, Joel Plaskett, Dave Sampson, Jenn Grant, and performing at the North American Indigenous Games with DeeDee Austin, again at the Scotiabank Centre.
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Along with chart-busting releases, playing to a hometown crowd of over 9,000 people, branching out into new projects with fellow musicians and holding down several local residencies with his "Rock & Roll Piano Show" called "This Ain't Elton", R.I.T.C.H.I.E. is hard at work on his first studio full length album, titled "Long Way Home", due out in early 2024.
R.I.T.C.H.I E., is set to release this new album that will reinvent his style, becoming more inclusive of modern genres including electronica and hip hop, in other words, building a bridge closer to his ultimate musical vision.
It is clear that R.I.T.C.H.I.E. is doing something different and making no apologies. His experiences as a 2SLGBTQ+ youth comes out in his lyrics.
Above all, his music preaches the message of hope and acceptance, peace, love, unity and respect.
My Story - Running Down A Dream
R.I.T.C.H.I.E was born Christopher Ritchie in Halifax, Nova Scotia and has been writing his own songs since the age of 11. The youngest of two children, he grew up loving the piano, but was bullied throughout school, and hid his talents for many years. Never truly finding the support he desperately needed. He started playing piano at lunchtime in the school music room, for a few girls who loved to request popular songs for him to play and sing. An early indication of the shows he would create more than 25 years later. His first real gig was at the young age of 16 at the East Coast Music Association's 72-hour Jam in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 2004 he moved to Toronto to further his music career. For many years he gigged around town, playing at famous Toronto venues like The El Mocambo and The Rivoli. He even worked behind the scenes as a Stagehand and Roadie. Earning a living building stages while dreaming of performing on them. In 2007 his music was first featured internationally when his song "Alibies" was chosen to appear alongside Artists from different countries in a compilation called "Rock 4 Life". Produced by Quickstar Productions.
In 2011 He formed the band Members Of The Academy in Toronto and spent the next year writing and performing with the group which included EJ Smith on guitar, Elijah Moody on Bass and Tait Rowsell on drums. The 2010's were a great time of personal growth for him, as he developed his songwriting abilities and began to write and perform new material. But in 2018 tragedy struck when his Father, Arthur, was diagnosed with Cancer. In an effort to help his ailing Father, he decided it was time to move back home. Shortly after arriving, his Father succumbed to his cancer and passed away. Without his biggest supporter, R.I.T.C.H.I.E. withdrew from the spotlight and stopped performing for almost 2 years. He now lives in Halifax and has been developing his unique style even further. In 2020, during the Pandemic, he began publishing and releasing songs from his catalogue that span more than a decade of musical influences.
His first Studio EP, called "Unfaithful" was released in 2020 by REO MUSIK and features 6 songs - including the track "I Try", a collaboration with Canadian JUNO Award winning R&B Artist, JRDN.
He followed that up with regular releases including the sIngles: "When Dark Turns To Day", a funky, electronic inspired disco beat, and "TR2D (Too Rare To Die)", a throwback 80's synth-pop song reminiscent of classic Billy Joel. Bouncing back into Live Music since the world was in lockdown hasn't been easy. But He is no stranger to adversity.
Today, he is extremely dedicated to pursuing his dreams, and not only self-produces all of his songs, including playing all of the instruments, but he manages his own distribution and publishing.
Currently he plays keys for the renowned Halifax-based band THE REBEL PROSPECTS and is in the studio working with members of HOT MONDY and THE STANFIELDS on new music to be released later this year.
In 2023 he joined forces with 17-yo Indigenous Singer-Songwriter and multi-award winner DeeDee Austin, becoming her piano player and getting to perform on some of his biggest stages yet including the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax and Celebration Square in MIssissauga, ON
R.I.T.C.H.I.E.'s music has been featured on CIOE 97.5 FM's "East Coast Top 30 Countdown" as well as the "Atlantic Indie Roundabout with Maurice Aucoin"
He has also been in rotation on CKDU 88.1 FM on
"The Hanz Show" with Hanz Oonz and his Single,
"And So It Goes (Coree Jamez Remix)" has been played on International Radio station BNB London Radio, which has over 20K listeners weekly in over seven countries.
R.I.T.C.H.I.E. is a proud member of Music Nova Scotia, ECMA, CARAS and SOCAN.
Was Nominated in 2022 for a Nova Scotia Music Award for "Emerging Industry Professional Of The Year"
Was an Official JUNOs Judge in 2022, (Recording Engineer Of The Year) and again in 2023, (Electronic Album Of The Year).
Contact
Currently seeking new management.
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Managed by REO MUSIK INC