RIYA on SoundBetter

I'm a two-time award-winning Vocalist/ Topline writer with a versatile voice and my own set-up to write and record vocals easily & to a high standard. My music has featured on Radio 1, 1Xtra, Kiss FM, BBC6Music and in commercials. I specialise in drum and bass but my voice lends itself to other styles too.

How it works:

Send me a message with a downloadable link to your track. When you do this, please also provide a clear brief including any timelines you are working to and any budgets you are working with. The brief must include a description of what you want sang, a guide vocal, or if you had a vision for the song/lyrics, then please include that too. References are always useful as it will show me how you want the piece to be sang and will make the process quicker.

What I offer:

VOCALS ONLY
Demo vocals (not for release)
Backing vocals arrangement & recording (for release)
Non-featured vocals (for release)
Featured vocals (for release, dependent on project)

All of the above is for songs, jingles, commercials only. NOT DJ MIXES.

VOCALS & FULL TOPLINE
Songwriting (lyrics only)
Full topline (melody & lyrics)

T&C's
- Dry stems will be sent once the balance is paid in full.
- Featured artist releases will be determined on an individual basis.
- Full Topline (Royalty required: 50% of Master and 50% of the Publishing splits)
- Vocal projects (lyrics & melody pre-written) - small royalty may be required if it gets signed
- Recorded vocals may only be used for the session purchased and are not to be used without permission on any other track.

Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.

Contact me through the green button above and let's get to work.

Credits

Languages

English

6 Reviews - 1 Repeat Client

Endorse RIYA

by Mark W.
Verified
I've now worked multiple times with Riya. Not only does provide spot on vocals both dry and effects but she also does great ad libs as well.
She is consistently professional. She is responsive and listens/delivers on specific instructions. I am always so impressed by her amazing voice and it certainly makes my music sound top quality.
I would totally recommend Riya to anyone else who is looking for a top artist who is both professional, responsive and great to work with.
by Ruth Royall
Riya is a remarkable vocalist and songwriter. She has been inspiring and efficient to work with and always delivers.
by Mark W.
Riya has been a delight to work with. Her vocals have been fantastic for an electronic song I wrote. She delivered exactly what I asked her to do plus gave some more. I found her vocals very inspiring to the extent that it gave me more ideas to work with as well. Would love to get the opportunity to work with her again. She's fab and highly recommend.....
by Andrew Wilson (VILLEM)
Having collaborated with Riya on over 10 songs, amassing number 1s on beatport and ‘Ships’ receiving a Million+ Spotify streams alone, Riya is in the A++ category for vocalists within Drum & Bass and beyond.

Would highly recommend!
by Steve J.
I have been privileged enough to work with Riya for quite a few years now and she has always been an absolute pleasure to work with and a true professional as well as a fantastic writer and vocalist. Our collaboration 'Northpoint' has gained over 1 million streams across streaming platforms! If you are looking for great toplines an amazing voice, then look no further.
by Ruth Royall
An incredible vocalist with an amazing talent for songwriting. Highly recommend!

Interview with RIYA

Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I'm working on an album and an EP (drum and bass focused), some acoustic tracks, and some soul music.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Ruth Royall, Charlotte Haining
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Analog has a nicer, warmer sound but I came into this when things were digital and the software available makes the process a lot more creative and quicker.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love that music is the universal healer and breaks down barriers. Through music and lyrics, we can be healed and unified. That's something really special.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: If I can be named on a track as a featuring artist. My answer depends on the track. I typically only ghost write through SoundBetter, lending my writing and vocal skills to others for their tracks. Permission to be a featuring artist is rare but, it's still worth the ask!
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: I'm most well known for drum and bass and so people assume that's all I do when I don't! I think my voice lends itself well to acoustic piano/guitar tracks, Neo-Soul, R&B, and electronic pop. If you like the sound of my voice, let's explore the possibilities together.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What key is the track in? What tempo is the track? What timeline are they working to? What is the track for/how will it be used? Do they have a vision for it/what were they thinking and feeling when they made the track? How many vocal layers would they like, and do they want harmonies and ad libs?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Provide as clear a brief as possible. This is so helpful and makes the whole process quicker and ensures we are on the same page from the beginning.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: My portable keyboard, portable USB microphone & pop shield, Macbook Pro, Charger and Audio Sampler
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been doing this professionally since 2009. I've travelled all over the world with it and performed in so many countries. That said, I've been involved in music in some way since I was 6 years old.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Jack Garrett. He's unbelievably talented and a multi-instrumentalist. I love how he writes and his sound and would love the chance to collaborate with him to make something special.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: I'm not a producer but from a vocal perspective, I'd say it's really important that the vocals are coming from a room that has been treated acoustically in some way, even if that's just a reflexion filter over the microphone. A good recording is essential.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Electronic music, mostly Drum and Bass and Neo-Soul. That said, I've worked with Acoustic, House, Garage, R&B, and Dubstep producers too and love that also.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Topline writing
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Emotive, angelic, sometimes haunting vocals with beautiful harmonies. I have a great falsetto. My lyrics are cryptic, interesting and healing in some cases. I write a lot about personal experience but also about things that are taboo in hope that it will resonate with those that need to hear it, healing their pain through music.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Someone will send me message with a downloadable link to a track. They will include a clear brief including any timelines they are working to and any budgets they are working towards. The brief includes a description of what they want sang, a guide vocal, or their vision for lyrics. I will then respond with a price, timeline, and any ideas I have. The price includes two free revisions.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a Rode NT1A microphone as it suits my voice, a Focusrite Clarett Pro soundcard (with air function to increase the breathiness of the vocals), a sE Electronics Reflexion filter and pop shield. This goes into my Macbook Pro. My DAW is Logic Pro X. I also have many vocal plug-ins from the Waves and Izotope family.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Singer/songwriters on the most part, especially Jack Garrett, Alicia Keys, Dua Lipa, Ruth Royall, Becky Hill, Charlotte Haining, Billie Eilish, Lana Del Ray, Dolly Parton, Katy B to name a few. Swiss Beats is also incredible, Pharrell Williams, J Dilla, and The Foreign Exchange.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I currently mostly do full Topline Writing (lyrics and melody). In the past I did a lot of session singing, recording vocals for clients and helping to arrange vocals.