Riz MC

Am back in the socialist-capitalist, traditional-cutting edge, muticultural-classist, anomaly that is the UK.

Been a mad year. Have shot three films and signed to a label I respect and rate – Tru Thoughts – the home of Quantic, Bonobo, Zed Nias, Rodney P, Belleruche, and more. They will be releasing a deluxe CD edition of the MICroscope album in early 2012 – with loads of new remixes.

The way it has worked out was funny – I finished filming the exact same day I signed to Tru Thoughts, and the same day I turned 29. Was a good day. Except I had the shits and spent a lot of it on the toilet and in front of camera and hot lights. Dehli Belly Birthday.

So this is where I been…

Earlier in the year I shot Black Gold in Qatar, and Trishna in India.

Black Gold

TRISHNA

Just now I have finished a shoo for The Reluctant FUndamentalist. It was longer, and more of a journey than anything I’ve done. I always wanted to work with Mira Nair, since I saw Monsoon Wedding and Namesake – and always loved Mohsin Hamid‘s amazing novel . The shoot was gruelling – and inspiring becuase of what I learnt, who I met, and where I went…

To prepare for the character of Changez, I read up on international finance, Urdu poetry, and Pakistan US relations. This was eye opening enough (especially the amazing poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz), but then a lot of the journey also seemed to play out unexpectedly in really personal ways, while we were filming…

For example, I was in NYC on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 for research, and encountered some unbelievable racism, alongside some humbling and dignified mourners (a documentary of that day will be posted up over the next few weeks).

Then, the Occupy Wall St movement kicked off while we were shooting in NYC a month later! The main arguments of the protest at Zucotti Park, about how we really measure value, was a central thread of the film. It was interesting talking to people down there, so I made a documentary about it:

WHAT\’S IT LIKE AT OCCUPY WALL ST?

I also ended up reconnecting with Pakistan. My connection to Pakistan is mainly through the UK community here – which is very particular and has evoled in its own ways, but hanging out with novellist and singer Ali Sethi, Pakistani music star Meesha Shafi who plays my sister, meeting legendary Qawalli singer Fareed Ayaz – all this opened me up to a more spiritual, liberal, and humanist side of what’s going on in Pakistan.

Then, before we wrapped in India I snuck in a gig at the NH7 Music Festival in Pune, near Bombay. It was a really good gig, with DJ Nihal behind the decks for me, and a really receptive hard core at the front (despite around 60% stood watching, slightly confused). Have a look at the gig video (from 1 hour 11 minute).

Then we finished the film in Turkey. Istanbul hit me over the head and then stretched my skull – it shredded all fake East-West distinctions that we are fed growing up. It used to be capital of the Roman Empire, The Byzantine Christian Empire, the Ottoman Muslim Empire, and is a HUGE modern, liberal, secular city, full of white skinned, football crazy Muslims. It broke down lots of the pigeonholes that we take for granted.

Here’s the Aya Sophia – a church form 500 AD, full of Roman artefacts from 200 BC saved form Rome when the empire there fell, converted into a mosque in the 1400s. Notice the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus mosaic on the ceiling, which wasn’t covered up for at leats the first 100 years that it was being used as a mosque.

Above all tho it’s good to be home. I had another exhaustion related hospitalisation the minute I landed – was weird to go form 1st class to spending the night on an NHS Hospital trolley (keepin’ it real), but I guess my body needed to chill out properly.

Now I’m charged up and ready to make some ridonkuloid music for 2012.

Thanks for the support on fb, twitter, and everywhere.

x

The legendary Tru Thoughts label is gonna be releasing my debut album MICrosope on CD.

New remixes on this Deluxe Edition will include remixes from the following super heavyweights (I have linked their names to their sites in case you don’t know who they are)

Plan B remix of All of You, dBridge remix of All of You, Zed Bias remix of Dark Hearts, Bok Bok remix of Dark Hearts…As well as these remixes you have heard before from True Tiger, RacknRuin, and P Money.

Can’t wait to have a physical CD in my hands – hope you can support the release.

Right now I am in Atlanta, Georgia – shooting a big film with some big actors, that I’m really excited about… I hope to be able to tell you about it very soon!

I’m co-organizing this fundraiser for the Pakistan floods.

AMAZING LINEUP (the best in the world that night??)

URGENT SITUATION (20 million homeless!!!)

So please spread the word. All money goes to the DEC.

Tickets are here – first 100 are £10 get em quick!!!

If you’re lucky Plan B and myself will do an Ant+Dec tribute act.

…maybe even a bhangra version, check it out…

We got reviews and great coverage  in RWD, Time Out, Guardian Guide, as well as…

CMU Daily – “[this is] a message to all performing musicians – must try harder”

The Independent – “he has created something unique…the music is great”

The Times - “a potentially dazzling showcase”

This is an amibtious project which hopes to re shape live music performance – so thank you to an amazing team for making this possible, and thanks to everyone for coming – we hope you liked it!

We will be touring again end of this / start of next year.

The authorities at the Department of Culture and Communication have attempted to block this recent broadcast by the MIcroscope sonic resistance forces. You can access it here: http://www.vimeo.com/8565573 (PASSWORD: experiment).

Recruitment and Sonic Vaccination takes place on the 17th June 2010 at Fabric nightclub, London EC1.

Spread the word. Be mindful of leaks, informants, and infiltrators.

- r12mc

The first single from my debut album is now out there on radio and online – Hundreds+Thousands.

It’s getting plays from Mistajam, Huw Stephens, Rob da Bank, and other great DJ’s.

It’s a a Robin Hood credit crunch fantasy revenge track. With extra bass. you know the type, right?

AND THE MUSIC VIDEO IS HERE: Riz MC – Hundreds + Thousands

Released 14th June on iTunes and everywhere digitally.

Hope you like it!!

Produced by hot shot beats bandit Redinho (Glasgow’s Numbers label), remixes by Baobinga, Movements, and Tomb Crew coming soon…

MICroscope live experience at Fabric (www.fabriclondon.com) on June 17th. Riz MC’s debut album MICroscope comes coupled with a groundbreaking high concept live show and trans-media online experience: rather than perform his album live, Riz MC has created an interactive live experience in which the audience become part of the show itself. The music will indeed be played (fans will get to hear music from the forthcoming album), but through a themed storyline complete with actors/musicians – the only way to understand this highly psychological experience is to experience it for oneself. At the live show MICroscope invites you into a world of secret agencies, experiments, sound wars, and mind control in a battle of bass and beats – the experience will literally move your mind.

Get your tickets now www.ticketweb.co.uk!

Now in theaters. Check the reviews at rottentomatoes.com/m/four_lions/.

Thanks for the unbelievable amount of support!