Interview: Big Dream With RiTcH
Interview by Lindsey V. Britt / Photos from RiTcH’s socials
Warrington singer-songwriter RiTcH, known for his hits “Big Dream”, “Godsend”, and “replace you”, has some exciting stuff in the works for the music world. For those lucky enough to be in the Manchester, UK area, one can catch RiTcH at Warrington Music Fest this weekend, and opening for New Rules on May 27th at Night & Day Café.
First off, what got you into music in the first place?
My first memory of music when I think about it was when I was like five, I watched Justin Timberlake at my grandparent’s house down the road, I think it was the “Like I Love You” video, when he was dancing on the car in the beanie with the girl. And I thought that was just the coolest shit ever, I was like I wanna be you! But actually, I picked up a guitar at like fourteen, fifteen, so pretty late, so I’m not great at the guitar. But I thought I needed an instrument when I was singing in private to take it further.
What led you from being in the pop/rock world to the anti-pop world?
When I started making music with my guy Lee it was never like a conscious decision. I think these days genres are outdated, with the freedom of being able to create for myself. I just wanted to make music that felt real and right for me and was sonically what I wanted to hear myself. Lee really helped guide me through it, through that discovery, and still does to this day. I think in a world now more than ever when there’s like five billion songs uploaded a day (that’s an exaggeration), I think you go too far left it doesn’t connect, and if you’re too far right it just gets lost within it all. So yeah, I think doing something fresh is just fun for me, and I hope whoever is listening gets it more. And I feel like my personality can be expressed a little bit more in the anti-pop world I suppose, just beyond my voice I guess. The music that turns my head is always that stuff I haven’t heard before, you know.
Your music video for “Big Dream” is one of my most favorite music videos of all time, I even brought it up in my music appreciation class. What made you want to make such an amazing, almost optical illusion-like music video? Because I never see the same things in it twice.
So, the concept of “Big Dream” is about seeing beneath the surface of and getting to the truth. With that in mind, the infinite zoom on the video, we had the idea we just thought it encapsulates the concept, we always try to do that, make the visuals, the artwork, and everything intertwine with the song. StefWithAnF though is the brains on the execution of that one, she killed it!
On May 25th you’ll be playing the Warrington Music Fest, how excited are you to be playing a hometown show?
I’m gassed! I’ve done it before but this time it’s at 9 PM so I’m hoping it’s going to be a bit more rowdy. And I hope the sun is setting, I don’t think I’ve ever played outside when it’s getting dark, that’ll be cool.
It was just announced that you’ll be opening up for New Rules at the Manchester show of The Drawing Board Tour. How excited are you to be working with UP NEXT, along with sharing the stage with the lads?
Yeah, I’m buzzing, obviously me and the boys go way back, especially me and Nathan. I’ve never played Night & Day Café, so in Manchester there’s this place called Northern Quarter and it’s on that street, you can hear the music from outside which is cool. Always a pleasure catching the boys. UP NEXT has been great, they’ve been so good. And hopefully, we’re going to go out afterwards, and I’ll probably forget it all in the morning.
Since you’re from Warrington, which is between Liverpool and Manchester for those who don’t know, how would you say the music scene compares to the London scene?
I wish I was in London more; I work in London a lot but I think, (this isn’t a flex by the way), but I think I’ve played every city in the UK at some point, and I’m probably biased, but I think it gets rowdier the more north you get, which I like. Glasgow is the maddest city that I’ve ever played, 100%. Comparing where I’m from to London, I think it’s maybe just more polite in a way. I love playing London though, I played Camden, that was the last gig I did in March, and I saw The Sex Pistols played there, so that was cool.
Taylor Swift is going to be near you soon for The Eras Tour, are you planning on going or are you going to avoid the crowds and tourists?
I’m not planning on going, no. Ideally, I’d like to avoid the madness. But shoutout to Taylor Swift and all the Swifties. I reckon she’d like The Freemount, which is a bar in Manchester, so maybe I’ll see her in there… probably not.
Is there a band or artist that you would love to tour with one day?
Honestly, at the minute, it’s just anyone that’ll have me and put up with it. easy life, that’d be wicked, and I think the vibe would suit.
Would you be to coming over to the states for a show at some point?
I’ve never been to America and I’d love to, that’d be the dream. I think being from England, I really am interested by Americanness, that culture, the things in America like what goes on, love it. My music taste is very American, I mean, I love English music but it’s super American. I’m a hip-hop head at heart, like growing up I was Bluetoothing all the classics over the Walkman back in the day. Maybe if I go to America, when I play a show for the first time, I’m doing what I love, if you know what I mean, that would be cool.
Your username sonofaritch is so clever, how did you come up with it?
People say it sounds like so-no-faritch, haha! No, I could lie and take all the credit, but my mate actually came up with it. I wanted something that made sense but wasn’t boring, like my Dad is called Richard, so I have the same name as my Dad. I’m literally a son of a Rich. Shoutout Tom for coming up with name!
I know you’re a huge Red Hot Chili Peppers fan, What’s your favorite song by them?
That is a hard question, I’d say “Scar Tissue” is the first one that comes to mind. I’ve seen them, it was so good and John Frusciante was playing on guitar as well, they’ve had I think three guitarists and John was the second one, he disappeared for a while and he came back and that was crazy, I was just watching him the whole time.
Do you have any upcoming projects in the works for later this year?
I’ve got so much, so many, and I don’t think I can go into detail. But expect more music videos and just weird shit.
Recently you posted about seeing Rick Astley in concert, I assume you’re a fan of his, but are you “Never gonna give you up, Never gonna let you down, Never gonna run around and desert you, Never gonna make you cry, Never gonna say goodbye, Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you”?
Depends on the situation. It’s funny how I ended up at that gig, I got invited to the opening night of the arena and he was playing. He’s actually from where I’m from, he’s a fellow Wool and we call people Wools in Warrington, that’s the boy I guess deep down. I think a RiTcH and Rick Astley collab would be hard, I hope to think it would, probably wouldn’t because I’ll ruin it. He’s super talented, I didn’t know he was that talented, I knew he was great, but he’s really, really great.
I’m curious, what was the last song you listened to on Spotify?
“Red Bottom Sky” by Yung Lean. I’ve been on to Yung Lean for a long time and he’s wicked, he’s an artist. This week I’ve just been obsessed, but I get like that where I just watch everything and go back to it all the time, every interview, every tour doc, everything I can get my hands on, so that’s what I’ve been doing this week.
If you made another iconic playlist such as ‘anti pop chomp.’ What would you call it?
Earwax or something like that.
My last question to ask is, do you have a recommendation? It can be absolutely anything you want, advice, restaurant, place to visit, something to do, anything you want.
Clints Inc. Don’t ask, you’ve just gotta Google it.
Make sure to check out RiTcH on your favorite streaming platform and you can be watching his music videos on YouTube while you’re on the lookout for all the weird shit coming.
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