Artist description Julia and her brother Roland try to make good pop music.

Music Style Pop

Musical Influences Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach, Scritti Politti, A.C.Jobim, Stefan Sulke, Marcos Valle, ELO, Manfred Krug, the Jeremy Days, Rio Reiser, Hildegard Knef, Jane Birkin, Tomoyuki Tanaka, Momus, Phil Spector, Astrud Gilberto, A-ha, José Feliciano, Labi Siffre, Prefab Sprout, Pizzicato 5, Serge Gainsbourg, Jaques Dutronc, Francoise Hardy, Marion Maerz, Stevie Wonder, Hiroshi Takano, Glen Campbell, Kraftwerk, Mary Roos, the Tubes, Harry Nilsson, Dave Stewart, Curtis Mayfield, Adriano Celentano

Similar Artists Prefab Sprout, Carpenters, Air, Moloko, Pizzicato 5, Cardigans, Burt Bacharach, ELO, Manfred Krug, Hildegard Knef, Serge Gainsbourg, Astrud Gilberto, Momus, Beach Boys, the Beatles, Spector

Artist History Before Riviera was started, both Julia and Roland played together in the Britpop band "my flavour jasmine" from 1991-1997. From 1997 to 1999 they worked with producer René Tinner (Can, whirlpool prod., Westernhagen, Trio, Element of crime). After that Riviera concentrated on building up their own studio and they are producing music there since. In 2001, Riviera's first long playing CD was released in Japan on PHILTER. In 2002, Riviera visited Tokyo twice for PR and concerts. Until now they've released three albums and contributed songs to miscellaneous samplers all over the world. An analog vinyl EP with riviera remixes by Fantastic Plastic Machine, Shuya Okino, Halfby and Electric Sheep was released in Japan early spring 2003. Riviera are currently working on their fourth album.

Group Members Julia Wolff : vocals, fender rhodes, keyboards, drum programming - - Roland Wolff : vocals, piano, fender rhodes, arp-odyssey, Trinity, Moog, bass, percussion, acustic and electric 6/12-string guitars, drums+loops

Instruments hofner, fender and rickenbacker guitars, yamaha bass, korg 800d, poly-61, fender rhodes, hohner electra piano, roland u-20, sonor drums, solina string ensemble

Albums julia + roland (2001); Alaska (2001); Mood Bazaar (2002) - philter records

Press Reviews Reviews and articles in japanese magazines "Rockin'On", "Sound+Recording magazine", "What's in?", BEIKOKU ONGAKU, "HMV the musicmaster", Pia and "Marquee", reviews in german magazines WESTZEIT and DE:BUG. Konishi Yasuharu of 'Pizzicato 5' said the following about Riviera's music: "For the past several years, a number of pop and charming music have been emerging from the German music scene, but among them Rivera's music is by far the most youthful and pop. I can easily tell the influence of various kind of music in the sound of Riviera, but that is what's wonderful about their music. Most of all, I can clearly see that they enjoy making music from the bottom of their heart. I may not know a record which makes the German language sounds this cute. It would be interesting to remix their songs." Songs of Riviera had been remixed by artists such as Calico, Fantastic Plastic Machine, Shuya Okino, Halfby and Electric Sheep.

Additional Info Compilations (excerpt): "sound of garden Vol.1&2" (philter/sony) - "space program 1-4" (philter/HMV) - "German Connection" (edel) - "Aufnahmezustand"(ZYX) - "Monokini" (monochrome) - "Daft Wild sparkling..." (apricot/EFA)

Location Cologne, NRW - Germany

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