Ria Ritchie
{{Short description|English singer-songwriter and recording artist}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ria Ritchie
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name = Ria Ritchie
| alias =
| birth_place = Lowestoft, Suffolk, England
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1987|09|23}}
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}}
| genre = {{hlist|R&B|neo soul|soul|acoustic}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|musician}}
| years_active = 2012–present
| label = Unsigned
| associated_acts = Plan B,{{clr}} Reece Ritchie
| website = {{url|riaritchie.com/}}
}}
Ria Ritchie ({{IPAc-en|r|i|ˈ|ɑː}} {{respell|ree|AH|'}}; born 23 September 1987) is an English singer-songwriter and recording artist. Signed to Takeover Entertainment in 2011, she released her debut single, entitled "Only One", in May 2012.{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/thesound/a370689/playlist-10-tracks-you-need-to-hear.html| work=Digital Spy | first=Lewis | last=Corner | title=Playlist: 10 tracks you need to hear | date= |access-date=}}
Life and career
=Early life=
Ria Ritchie was born and grew up in Lowestoft, a seaside resort and resort town on the North Sea coast of England and the most easterly point of the United Kingdom.{{cite news|url=http://sbtv.co.uk/2012/04/ones-to-watch-ria-ritchie/ | work=SB.TV | title=Ones To Watch: Ria Ritchie |date=|access-date=}}{{cite news|url=http://www.sundownfestival.co.uk/news/youtube-star-ria-ritchie-joins-sundown | work=sundownfestival.co.uk | title=YouTube star Ria Ritchie joins Sundown! | access-date=}} Her father is South African and her mother is English.{{cite web |url=http://www.placesandfaces.co.uk/archive/articles/1162/suffolks-rising-star.html |title=Suffolk's rising star |publisher=Places&Faces |access-date=30 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140702075926/http://www.placesandfaces.co.uk/archive/articles/1162/suffolks-rising-star.html |archive-date=2 July 2014 |df=dmy-all }} She is the younger sister of actor Reece Ritchie, actor in the American films 10,000 BC and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.{{cite news| url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2201022/ | work=Internet Movie Database (IMDb) | first=Tom | last=Lamont | title=IMDb: Reece Ritchie | access-date=}}
=Career: 2012–present=
Ria Ritchie released videos of her covering other artists songs with the guitar, receiving over 11 million views on YouTube. In December 2009, Ria began writing songs with Plan B, then in 2010, she created a studio partnership with songwriter Ruth-Anne Cunningham, who co-wrote Pixie Lott's debut album Turn It Up.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/suffolk/hi/people_and_places/music/newsid_8947000/8947364.stm | location=Norfolk | work=BBC News | first=Sophie | last=Little | title=Jay-Z label backing for Ria Ritchie | date=}}
In 2010, Ria began talks with the discoverer of Rihanna and Ne-Yo, Jay Brown – business partner to rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z. Ria was signed in 2011 by Takeover Entertainment who signed a contract with Jay-Z's entertainment company, Roc Nation.
In May 2012, Ria Ritchie released her first single, "Only One", and an extended play in 2012, with a debut album released in February 2013.{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7yAGUNrfwA | work=youtube | title=Ria Ritchie: MOBO TV Interview | date=}}
Artistry
=Musical style=
Ria Ritchie's style of music yearned from when she started singing from the age of 12. She taught herself the guitar from the age of 17. She grew up listening to a lot of Motown and soul music and her music is influenced by artists such as Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Keisha White, John Legend, Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, Plan B, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Al Green. She has done a few covers from some of these artists on her YouTube page.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/ria-ritchie/354617-ria-ritchie-plan-b-tinchy-stryder-x-factor-simon-cowell |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513203728/http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/ria-ritchie/354617-ria-ritchie-plan-b-tinchy-stryder-x-factor-simon-cowell |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 May 2012 | work=MTV News | first=Joanne |last=Dorken | title=Ria Ritchie | date=}}, {{cite news|url=http://allthingspopstars.tumblr.com/riaritchie | title=Artist Feature: Ria Ritchie | date=}}
=Voice=
Ria Ritchie is an alto lyric coloratura soprano with a vocal range type spanning more than four octaves (scientific pitch notation: E3–D7).
Discography
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title ! scope="col" colspan="2" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" | UK
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" | US |
|---|
| rowspan="1"| 2012
! scope="row"| "Only One"{{cite news|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/only-one-single/id531198302 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619181713/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/only-one-single/id531198302 |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 June 2012 | work=iTunes Store | title=Only One – Single by Ria Ritchie |date= |access-date=}} | — | — |rowspan="1" {{n/a}} |
=As featured artist=
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Director ! scope="col"| Ref. |
|---|
| rowspan="2"| 2012
! scope="row"| "Only One" | Luke Monaghan, James Barber |
| scope="row"| "Control" (with Disclosure)
| Ben Murray, Ross McDowell |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.riaritchie.com/}}
{{Takeover Entertainment navbox}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ritchie, Ria}}
Category:English women singer-songwriters
Category:English singer-songwriters
Category:English women guitarists
Category:English hip-hop musicians
Category:English people of South African descent
Category:People from Lowestoft
Category:21st-century English women singers
Category:21st-century English singers
Category:21st-century English guitarists
Category:British hip-hop singers