The Ririverse connects with us to reveal the electrifying power behind their bold new anthem "KTGB!"
- STAFF
- Sep 18
- 11 min read
Updated: Sep 25
By: Staff
“KTGB!” is a seismic, genre-defying anthem that solidifies The Ririverse as an unstoppable creative force.
In a world where the line between vulnerability and rebellion often blurs, The Ririverse’s latest anthem "KTGB!" arrives like a force of nature, unapologetically bold, fierce, and ready to dismantle expectations. The track opens with a chaotic swirl of electrifying guitar riffs, a touch of metallic edge, and a hook that digs deep under your skin. But it’s not just the sound that hits hard, it’s the message. A call to arms, a declaration of independence, and a personal reckoning wrapped in dark humor and sharp satire.
We spoke with Riri, the mind behind this exhilarating track, to uncover the layers that make up both "KTGB!" and the creative universe of The Ririverse. From the very first note, it’s clear that this song isn’t just a performance, it’s a confrontation. A confrontation with societal gatekeepers, with the very idea of what it means to be “cool,” and most of all, with the notion of surrender. As the song builds to its climax, the protagonist’s journey becomes a powerful metaphor for self-liberation, turning the tables on the traditional rock ‘n’ roll narrative where the “guitar boy” is the one in control.
But this isn’t just about flipping a script, it’s about creating something real. Something raw. Something that strips away the façade and reveals the heart of the artist behind the music. From personal struggles to bold production choices, we dive deep into what it means to create music that is both a personal catharsis and a broader statement on the power of breaking free.
Read on to learn more about the track, the inspiration behind it, and the journey that led The Ririverse to redefine what it means to be a force in the music world.
Begin Interview:
Hello Riri, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. We loved "KTGB!" The opening beats and reverberated metallic notes, followed by that wall of guitar sound, were exhilarating. The,n when your vocals hit, it was the embodiment of the rock genre we’ve been missing for so long. Plus, the storyline lands with such truth that it just levels it up even more. After experiencing that, we’re curious, what has your personal musical journey been like? Did you gradually evolve into your professional musical career, or was there a specific moment or event that sparked it all?
A. I find it very difficult to define when a musical journey begins. Is it the day I wrote my first song? Or maybe the day I first picked up a guitar at 16? Or the day the 4-year-old me decided my favourite song was “Thank You for the Music” by ABBA because it conveyed my personality the best? If I truly think about it, it seems that all of these little moments are part of the same narrative, leading up to the same outcome.
Speaking about the moment I wrote my first song, it was in March 2020, just as the pandemic was beginning. I heard a track with a really cool riff and promised myself I wouldn’t give up until I came up with something I liked as much. It took me three whole weeks to put that song together - you just never know how until you miraculously do it - and by the end of that time, it was nothing more than synth chords and vocals. From there, it was a long journey: first to gaining confidence in my songwriting and then to convincing myself I can actually try and produce my songs solo.
I hope to release that first song of mine someday so that things can come full circle!
Q. Did we mention we loved "KTGB?" It definitely is an intriguing eye-catcher. It's such a powerful and provocative anthem right from the start. What’s the song really about for you, and what message are you hoping people take from it?
A. I think a song can be listened to and enjoyed on many levels, and there is no right or wrong way to perceive it. Some people will probably just enjoy the vocal melody or the guitar riff. Some will listen to “KTGB!” to pump themselves up. And then there will be certain people who will hopefully look into the lyrics or even into the harmonic structure of the song and connect with it on a deeper level.
To me, this song is first and foremost about liberation. Years ago, back when I could only dream of getting to write music someday, I frequented various local music communities as a fan and met my fair share of gatekeepers. Looking back, I realise their behaviour was largely dictated by their own insecurities. But as a newcomer, it can be extremely disheartening to be subjected to their haughty, snobbish attitude. You always end up thinking you just aren’t cool enough for the scene.
I’m sure this makes a lot of people stop pursuing music (or any other form of creativity) before they really get started. So on a personal level, “KTGB!” is my way of saying: “This is all a game, don’t take it seriously. Kill the main boss and do what you want!”
Q. Did you have one particular person that this song is calling out, or is it more of a reflection of the whole spectrum of experiences you’ve had?
A. That’s a very interesting question! I think song lyrics are an amalgamation of experiences by their very nature. In my five years of writing songs, I’ve discovered that the best way to write relatable lyrics is to take a particular memory, a particular experience, and strip it back to its bare bones. What remains at this point is a universal human experience.
In this case, feeling vulnerable in the presence of someone who is in a position of power, trying to find the strength to break out of the cycle.
That core feeling has to be strong and relatable. And once it’s there, it’s time to turn it into a compelling story. The lyrics will often have to rely on some real-life details, some particular people, but they will also most likely severely exaggerate real events, just to make things more dramatic and fun to follow.
This is exactly what happened with “KTGB!”.
Q. "KTGB!" has a mix of intense humor and dark sarcasm. Is building a song around these stylings a one-off for you, or do most of your tracks land in this arena?
A. I would say, “KTGB!” displays qualities that you’d encounter in some of my other songs as well, albeit not in the same combination. “KTGB!” is indeed a mix of anger, humour, and sarcasm, and I do have other tracks that mix humour and sarcasm, anger and despair, irony and hope. There are also songs that are fiercely hopeful and those that are deeply sad. I see my project as a somewhat theatrical story of self-understanding, and that alone makes it impossible to dwell on one emotion forever.
Q. Your lyrics feature this mix of biting commentary and poignant reflection, especially with phrases like “Bye-bye, blue-eyed baby!” What do those words represent for you, and how do they tie into the larger narrative?
A. It didn’t come to me until after I finished the song, but the narrative of “KTGB!” reminds me of the “Death” card in tarot a little bit in the way that death stands for transformation rather than being understood literally. This is especially seen in the outro, where the lyrical heroine literally implies that the figure of the Guitar Boy holds no authority over her anymore. This feeling grows throughout the entire song: first when she doubts whether his act is “magic” or whether he is just “full of it”. Then, when he outright tells her she must be complacent to earn favour with him (“He makes voiceless girls scream, but only if they scream for him”). Finally, she sees his “eyes fade in the daylight” - this is not a description of death per se but rather of the moment when it turns out he’s just human when the show is over and the sun comes up. At the end of the night, she is free.
Q. “KTGB!” seems to shift the typical narrative where the guitar boy often wins the day. Was it important to you to give the narrative a twist, and why?
A. Does he, though? The kind of guitar boy “KTGB!” talks about is only a winner on the surface, and even that often only in the short term. For a while, he gets to live his best life, to enjoy all the attention that comes with his status. But I’ve seen people like that get beyond jaded; I’ve heard them say nothing feels meaningful and real anymore.
What’s the point of making a thousand “voiceless girls scream” if in the end there is no human connection left?
Q. The song has a recurring, hypnotic outro. How does that final repetition of the melody contribute to the song’s theme of closure and transformation?
A. I’m very happy you noticed that! I think the outro might be my favourite part of the song. To be more specific, the line “Bye-bye, blue-eyed baby!” was on my mind from the very beginning - and it’s actually the guitar hooks that were modelled after its melodic line, not the other way around! That way, throughout the whole song, Guitar Boy seals his fate by playing that riff. It’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy - he is inevitably going to dig his own grave.
Q. The boldness of "KTGB!" also marks your first full release as both producer and arranger. What was that creative process like for you, and how did you push your own boundaries?
A. For a very long time, I didn’t perceive myself as a producer at all. As I mentioned before, my first demo was nothing more than synth chords and vocals. I had worked with some people on producing my early songs, but I ultimately didn’t like the outcome, because it didn’t feel like me at all, and I didn’t know yet how to hold my ground when it came to deciding on a sound. Shifting into a different gear where I can decide everything but where I’m also responsible for everything was as exhilarating as it was terrifying. I had all sorts of misconceptions about what a good producer should be able to do. But what I ultimately found out in the process is this: it’s ok to try things, it’s ok if you go into a session not knowing what exactly you’re going to do. You’re doing it right if it feels like a space adventure.
Q. "KTGB!" feels like a statement, both musically and culturally. How do you see the current music industry responding to tracks like this, and do you feel it speaks to a larger societal conversation?
A. Hm, I haven’t really given that much of a thought. When it comes to songwriting, I don’t aim at delivering social commentary as much as at processing my own experiences. However, I think that the human experience is in many ways universal, which is why there will be people who resonate with this song and feel seen for what they had to go through in their respective journeys.
As I am building a community around Riri, I am trying my best to surround myself with people who don’t condone gatekeeping. So I’m happy to see that the societal conversation around that problem is ongoing.
There are always people who want change and those who profit from the status quo. I don’t harbour illusions that “KTGB!” is going to miraculously change the minds of the latter. But if it helps someone ground themselves and grasp their inner strength to stand up to bullying, my purpose will be fulfilled.
Q. There’s a certain catharsis in the final moment of the song, by killing the guitar boy. What do you think that symbolizes in terms of personal and artistic freedom for you? Short of actually physically killing him, what do you mean to display is the real method? Killing him socially or online, for instance?
A. To me, “killing” the guitar boy really means freeing myself from any bearing his actions or attitude might have had on me in the past. I am killing him in my head, removing the one thing that his whole act relies on - the importance that I used to assign to him.
Q. You’ve created a character in this song who’s at the center of all this drama. How do you see characters or personas evolving throughout your music in the future? Will they continue to challenge norms and expectations?
A. This is an excellent question! I’m very happy to see the concept of separate characters come across just right. Riri, as a project, is built upon the dichotomy between the socially acceptable, mundane version of a person and their true self. There is a difference between Rita - the everyday me, and Riri - the part of me I called into existence to protect me from harm, to help me process pain. Where Rita shies away from the guitar boy, Riri swoops in to execute his sentence.
As the project goes on, Riri is going to teach Rita how to stand up for herself, how to look her fears right in the eye. And if I have to think of the logical destination of this story, I think it’s going to be the ultimate fusion of the two halves.
Q. For the live circuit, what are your top 3 dream venues to perform at, regardless of size, and what would be the first song you'd perform if you could take the stage there?
A. I feel like I am still to learn about the cool venues that everyone wants to play at. The one venue I know I would have been dying to play if I were starting out some 50 years ago would be CBGB - that comes from reading tons of memoirs about the NYC music scene in those years. Also, probably all the legendary LA clubs that were mentioned in “Daisy Jones and the Six”, ha-ha! Then there’s also the Indra club in Hamburg - the one where The Beatles played their first Hamburg shows in the summer of 1960 - just for the sheer history of that place!
In all of those cases, I think the first song in my set would be the album opener from my future debut LP. I have already written all the songs and I know it’s going to be an eponymous record that is going to be opened with an eponymous song - “Riri”. That song is meant to be an invitation to enter the liminal space of Riri, so I think it’s only fitting to put it first on the setlist.
Q. Outside of music, who or what has had the biggest influence on your personal growth or artistic perspective?
A. I think most of my life has always revolved around music - first as a listener, then as a listener AND a songwriter. So I’m struggling to name an aspect of my life that would be completely unrelated to music. I could say reading, but my reading preferences are basically evenly split between fiction that inspires my lyrics and music biographies that make me feel like I’m in the presence of legends.
My father is definitely a huge influence on me, but even here, I think our love for music is a big reason why we are so close on an intellectual level.
Outside of that, I would say that personal and artistic growth is always fed by the people we choose to surround ourselves with. Every experience is valuable, every person is valuable - it’s seeing all the different ways people can love, betray, support, hate that gives me the perspective for my artistic endeavours.
Q. What do you want people to remember most about you after hearing this song and reading this interview?
A. Probably just this: Riri is coming for you!
Q. What's next for you after "KTGB!"? Can you share a glimpse of what your fans can expect next from Riri, both musically and conceptually?
A. Right now, I’m planning to start recording another single - a pick-me-up song I wrote about my sister as a gift for her birthday. With this second single, I want to show the opposite side of my project’s emotional spectrum - I like to jokingly call this genre “hope wave”.
This year, I’ve also written nine more songs to go onto my debut LP - I would like to devote most of my time moving forward to recording and arranging those. I intend this record to be the grand introduction to the concept of Riri - a place where you can meet your true self.
Riri, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Riri’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
