East London singer-rapper Rio Rainz returns with his new single, "Neverland," produced by Kurisu. With dream-like lyrics, Rio effortlessly transports listeners to a world of fantasy and emotion. His poetic lyrics, such as “I want to stay up so we both never land” beautifully capture the intoxicating feeling of falling for someone. "Neverland" is a captivating journey blending vulnerability with vivid imagery, leaving listeners hooked. When speaking on the song, Rio explains, “i wrote this about losing yourself in someone else’s presence, the moments you spend together lost in their imagination”. Rio’s songs are the sum of lived experiences – snippets of life vignettes, nights spent at house parties till 6 am, emotions in relationships, and youthful angst. Over the past year, Rio has made serious waves with standout singles like "BAD!" and "Mutual Butterflies" and now he’s been announced as a supporting act for Rizzle Kicks at their highly anticipated headline show at KOKO on Friday, 8th November.

Born to Irish and Jamaican parents in East London, Rio began honing his craft at a young age, playing keys for the church choir and attending performing arts school, where his love for all things creative flourished. Through introspective lyrics, he has openly shared his highs and adolescent battles, hoping to support others with his vulnerability. Rio has developed an uncommon perspective for someone his age, harbouring a distaste for all things modern while cherishing genuine, real-life connections. His distinctive worldview enables him to merge his diverse creative talents into his music seamlessly. His genre-fluid sound reflects a mix of all his inspirations, breaking stereotypes and creating a multi-layered musical experience. 

Rio has been on a transformative journey over the past few years, and now he's finally on the path he's always wanted. His mission is clear: to help others who have faced, or are facing, struggles similar to his own. Having experienced firsthand how confusing the world can be, he understands that the way forward can sometimes be obscure. "My head's a maze. There are so many layers to my personality, which can be unpredictable sometimes, but that’s what makes me who I am," he says. For Rio, writing is his way of making sense of it all. Rio burst onto the scene at fifteen with a powerful Black Box freestyle that went viral, confirming his rapping and singing abilities to the masses. His debut EP, "Withdrawal Symptoms," and follow-up EP, "Cobwebs in My Room," have cemented his position in the thriving DIY-Alt-Rap/R&B scene. Rio's fanbase has quadrupled these past few years thanks to co-signs from The Face, NME, Hypebeast, MTV, and Complex. After climbing the UK Viral Chart on Spotify in 2023, he graced the cover of the flagship alternative playlist Our Generation twice, making him a top artist to watch for 2024.