Riton
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| Riton | |
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 Riton in 2006.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Henry Smithson |
| Born | 1978 |
| Genre(s) | Electronic, electroclash |
| Occupation(s) | DJ, musician |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Label(s) | Switch Recordings Grand Central Records |
| Associated acts | Gucci Sound System Die Verboten |
| Website | www.riton.tv |
Riton (pronounced /riːtɒn/ ree-ton) is electronica DJ / musician Henry Smithson (born 1978 in Newcastle upon Tyne). The name Riton is French slang for "Henry".
After graduating from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, he started the Switch Recordings label, upon which he released his first two 12" singles. He began DJing at Newcastle's "Shindig" nightclub. There, he was discovered by Mark Rae and signed to Grand Central Records independent record label. Like Rae, he then worked in Manchester's worked in the Fat City Records label/distribution/retail outlet.
His first release on Grand Central, "Communicated", featured on the compilation Central Heating 2 and was followed by his mostly instrumental debut album, Beats du Jour, in 2001.
In 2005, Riton and Ben Fat Trucker formed the Gucci Sound System. The pair currently have a monthly residency at the 333 Club in London and have their own nightclub named ‘Druzzi’s Baltimore Rave Club’ at Nightmoves on Shoreditch High St in East London. Guests have included Headman, Erol Alkan, 2 Many DJs, The Rapture, Richard X, Mylo and FC Kahuna.
Riton's second album is a much more vocal affair, and features amongst others, Lee Jones of Howdi and Luca Santucci. It includes a cover version of The Cure's "Killing an Arab".
In late 2006, it was announced in Belgian magazine HUMO that David and Stephen Dewaele from Soulwax had formed a krautrock band with Riton called Die Verboten. An album is expected late 2007.
Since the demise of Grand Central Records in 2006, Riton has released 12" singles on several European labels, including Linxfarren in the UK.
[edit] Discography
- Beats du Jour (Jun 2001)
- Homies And Homos (Sep 2004)
[edit] External links
[edit] Other uses
- Riton is an ancient Thacian wine vessel with a horn-like form and a relief of some animal, more often stag or billy-goat at the thinner, curved end. Ritons were made from metal. Several such vessels made of gold or silver were found in Bulgaria in arheological find such as the Kazanlak Treasure, the Valchitran Treasure and others.
- Riton is the name of a famous Bulgarian duet from the 1970s-1990s.
- Riton is a brand of Bulgarian chocolates.
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