Riton & Kah-Lo Foreign Ororo Interview

With a track record of releasing banger after banger over the past two years, Riton and Kah-Lo have shared their much-anticipated joint album Foreign Ororo.

With guest features across the LP from Nigerian artists Mr Eazi and Davido, the launch of Foreign Ororo serves as an embodiment of the vibrant and dynamic beats which have made Riton & Kah-Lo so popular. Tracks like 'Ready To Make A Move' display retro synth-focused tones, fused with emotive vocals.

The album debuts a range of fresh new productions, such as the garage-inspired 'Roll', a thumping production clad with trembling basslines. Meanwhile, 'Bad Boy' is a house-inspired track influenced by the old school disco sounds found in the early days of the genre's Chicago birth, and NYC movement of the 80s generation. With the rumbling 'Change Up Gal' led by afrobeat influences and dancehall-inspired tones, the album demonstrates the artistic diversity of both Kah-Lo and Riton, who have built a strong and organic musical relationship, which first transpired from social media.

Offering fan-favourite hits, Foreign Ororo includes 'Fasta', 'Fake ID', 'Betta Riddim' and 'Ginger', which received a wealth of radio support across Rinse FM and Kiss Fresh, rotation on Triple J & FBi Radio with additional spins from Annie Mac, Mistajam and Target across BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra, as well as plays across Beats 1 and BBC 6 Music.

Discussing their musical chemistry, Riton explains: "I was always on the look-out for a singer that had something a little bit special. Finally my prayers were answered in the form of Kah-Lo." He continues: "After the success of 'Rinse & Repeat', we were straight back in the studio in New York where we first started working together, and made a few more demos, finally finishing this LP in London at the end of last year."

"The last couple of years have been incredible!" adds Kah-Lo. "After being nominated for the Grammys, doing my first ever U.S and Australian tours, hitting more than 10 million streams on 'Fake ID', and making a remix for Selena Gomez, I'm extremely excited for Foreign Ororo to drop. It's been super special working with Riton on these tracks and I can't wait for everyone to hear it!"

Having amassed over 140 million streams on previous releases together, Riton & Kah-Lo have become one of dance music's most irresistibly in-demand duos, blending their talents to form a number of stomping house hits, including the Grammy-nominated 'Rinse & Repeat'.

With the two going from strength to strength with an impressive chain of hits over the course of 2018, the duo of the hour have invented their very own authentic sound. Foreign Ororo not only serves their greatest party hits that have filled dancefloors worldwide, but the project also introduces fresh exciting tunes that are sure to continue the much-deserved hype around Riton & Kah-Lo.

Interview with Kah-lo

Question: How would you describe your music?

Kah-lo: I would say it's fun time music.


Question: What inspired your album Foreign Ororo?

Kah-lo: For me it was nightlife in Lagos Nigeria and having a good time with my friends.


Question: Are you looking forward to visiting Australia?

Kah-lo: Definitely, this will be my first time there when it's warm.


Question: What can we expect from your upcoming Australian and New Zealand shows?

Kah-lo: A lot of ginger!


Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Kah-lo: Definitely Ginger, because it is an actual story and I love to tell it. It also gets me really hype.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Kah-lo: I don't necessarily think I prefer one over the other, because one is a bit more intimate and the other is more fun with a lot more people. Totally different vibes.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?
Kah-lo: Ariana Grande, Bella Alubo, Mr. Eazi and Burna Boy.


Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Kah-lo: For me it was Michael Jackson. I saw a documentary about how he made his Thriller music video and that was really when I knew.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Kah-lo: Kanye West or Rihanna.


Interview by Brooke Hunter