R.I.O. | |
---|---|
Origin | Köln,Germany |
Genres | Dancehall, electro house, dance |
Years active | 2007 - present |
Labels | Zooland, Spinnin' |
Associated acts | Yann Peifer, DJ Manian, Liz Kay, U-Jean, Nicco, Iraj Weeraratne |
Website | rio-music |
Members |
Yann Peifer Manuel Reuter |
Past members | Neal Dyer (Tony T.) |
R.I.O. is a German DJ-duo (formerly trio). The current members are DJ Manian and Yann Peifer. Until 2012, Neal Dyer was part of the group. Their biggest hit was the song "Turn This Club Around" landing in the top 5 of charts in Germany and Austria and at number one in Switzerland.
The two German DJs Manian and Yanou founded the act R.I.O. in the middle of 2007, after their great success with joint projects such as Cascada and Tune Up!. R.I.O. was initially intended as an "experimental project". The name is derived from their first recording with the same title, as well as the re-release as "De Janeiro". In their songs Manian and Yanou are active as songwriter, composer, and producer. Andres Ballinas, a good friend of the duo, cooperated as an author.
Also, it's a known fact that R.I.O. plays the Jesus Christ (from Nazareth) part in the music video "Shine On".
In addition to their own releases they often appear as remixers in appearance. Songs by artists who are a member of their own label Zooland Records, for example the ItaloBrothers or King & White, as well as old and new single releases of the members Manian and Yanou be mixed by them irregularly in the ordinary R.I.O.-style.
Initially they released their songs on their own label, Zooland Records, until they signed a contract with the German record label Kontor Records in 2011. Previously they had published individual songs on Kontor Records, but no contract had been in effect for all releases until 2011. Two more contracts for the international publication of their songs have been closed in 2011 with the Swedish record label Roxy Recordings and the Dutch label Spinnin' Records.
On music videos and live performances, the members Manian and Yanou stayed in the background. Since the entry of British singer, rapper and DJ of Jamaican origin Tony T. (real name Neal Antone Dyer) in 2007, he was the face and voice of R.I.O.. American born-German pop, R&B and hip-hop artist U-Jean (birth name Alex Hutson) was also used in some recordings. In 2012 the successful song "Party Shaker" was sung by Nicco. This was a confirmation that R.I.O. was a project of two DJs featuring various voices. On the live performances still U-Jean represented the duo.