Who is RIOT? RIOT Songs, Music, Discography & Artists Like RIOT
RIOT stands out as a masterclass in progressive bass music from the United States. As an electronic duo, they represent the cutting edge of modern dubstep production. Formed in Los Angeles by Tom Davidson and Daniel Magid, this pair has quickly established themselves as serious innovators in bass music. Their collaboration with Kayzo on “Wake Up” alone has over 20 million streams on Spotify, proving they know how to craft tracks that resonate globally with audiences across multiple genres. It’s the kind of work that catches 4D4M‘s attention. Adam appreciates producers who refuse to compromise on either technicality or dancefloor impact.
Who Is RIOT?
RIOT is a Los Angeles-based electronic duo consisting of Tom Davidson and Daniel Magid. Since forming in 2015, they have carved out a remarkable path through consistent releases on major labels like Monstercat, Dim Mak, and Insomniac Records. The pair’s momentum accelerated with strategic collaborations, starting with their breakout moment on “Wake Up” with Kayzo, which became one of the most streamed dubstep tracks on Spotify with over 20 million plays. Their joint project with SLANDER on “You Don’t Even Know Me” generated over 3 million streams and hit the Top 10 iTunes Dance Charts, demonstrating their appeal to both underground and mainstream audiences. Beyond originals, RIOT has tackled remixes for acts like Infected Mushroom, Knife Party, and Pegboard Nerds, showcasing their technical versatility and production capabilities.
What distinguishes RIOT is their willingness to blend genres seamlessly. They draw from progressive house, trance elements, and heavy bass simultaneously, creating a sound that appeals to festival crowds, professional DJs, and streaming listeners. Their booking agency relationships span globally, with representation in North America, Australia, Asia, and Europe, indicating their significant reach as touring artists.
RIOT’s Sound Explained
RIOT’s production style sits at the intersection of dubstep, melodic bass music, and progressive electronic structures. They employ aggressive sound design alongside nuanced harmonic progressions within their tracks. Their work frequently operates in the 140 BPM range typical of dubstep, but they regularly explore half-time and higher ranges depending on the track’s purpose. The wobble bass elements that define dubstep appear throughout their catalog, but rarely as the sole focus. Instead, they sit alongside melodic progression, atmospheric pads, or trance-influenced leads, keeping their productions sophisticated and multi-layered rather than one-dimensional.
Production-wise, RIOT invests heavily in professional mixing and mastering, ensuring their tracks feel clean and balanced regardless of intensity level. They incorporate heavy electronic drums, snappy snares, and intricate hi-hat patterns that give the music movement and energy. The duo shows influence from euphoric hardstyle elements, progressive house, and trance melodies. This eclecticism means RIOT tracks work equally well as club bangers, festival openers, or careful listening experiences for headphone enthusiasts.
Top Tracks by RIOT
Overkill
A perfect showcase of RIOT’s heavy bass credentials, “Overkill” combines aggressive wobble bass with crisp production. The track exemplifies their no-nonsense approach to dubstep design.
You Don’t Even Know Me (with SLANDER)
This collaboration broke into the Top 10 iTunes Dance Charts with over 3 million Spotify streams. The track balances RIOT’s bass sensibility with SLANDER’s melodic style, proving both acts could compromise without losing their identities.
Wake Up (with Kayzo)
With over 20 million Spotify streams, “Wake Up” stands as one of the most successful dubstep collaborations ever. The track’s infectious hook paired with a massive drop made it a staple in DJ sets and festival rotations worldwide.
Down With Your Love
This RIOT original demonstrates their ability to craft compelling tracks beyond collaborations. “Down With Your Love” features a groovy approach to dubstep, with infectious rhythmic elements and clear dancefloor focus.
Back To Back
At just over 4 minutes, “Back To Back” represents RIOT’s efficiency in songwriting. The track jumps between sections with purposeful energy while maintaining their signature quality standards.
Jungle Fury
“Jungle Fury” takes RIOT’s production aesthetic into more percussive and rhythmically complex territory, showcasing their willingness to experiment within their core sound.
Hurricane
The title “Hurricane” suggests meteorological force, and the track delivers with powerful bass movements and driving rhythmic elements that create both contemporary and timeless appeal.
Take That (Bonus Track)
Even as a bonus track, “Take That” maintains RIOT’s quality standards with aggressive bass and uncompromising production choices throughout.
Disorder (Rebirth)
The parenthetical “Rebirth” suggests this is a reimagined version of an earlier track, demonstrating how RIOT revisits their catalog with new production techniques and artistic sensibilities.
High Voltage (with SLANDER and JT FOLEY)
This three-way collaboration with vocalist JT FOLEY represents RIOT’s facility with vocal-driven productions, proving they can navigate singing records successfully.
Additional Works
Beyond their top-streamed releases, RIOT maintains consistent output across various labels. Their remix catalog includes reinterpretations of tracks from major artists like Infected Mushroom, Knife Party, and Pegboard Nerds, expanding their visibility while showcasing technical skill.
Why 4D4M Vibes With RIOT
From Adam’s perspective at 4D4M, RIOT hits that sweet spot where technical production meets genuine dancefloor functionality. Too many bass music producers choose between complexity and accessibility. RIOT refuses that false binary. Their tracks work in critical listening contexts and absolutely function in DJ sets, festivals, and streaming playlists. This dual nature is increasingly rare and increasingly valuable in modern electronic music.
What stands out is their collaborative approach to music-making. RIOT could dominate as a standalone act, but they consistently reach out to other producers and vocalists. This generosity combined with legitimate production chops creates win-win scenarios for all involved. When you hear “Wake Up” with Kayzo or “You Don’t Even Know Me” with SLANDER, you’re experiencing the best of both artists pushing each other toward excellence.
RIOT’s willingness to touch multiple subgenres without feeling muddled represents the future of electronic music talent. They’re not chasing trends; they’re creating their own lane and inviting collaborators to join the ride.
RIOT Discography
| Year | Release | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | RIOT Formation & Early Releases | Independent/Various |
| 2016 | Monstercat Releases Begin | Monstercat |
| 2017 | Overkill / Wake Up | Multiple Labels |
| 2018 | You Don’t Even Know Me / Discography Expansion | Dim Mak / Various |
| 2019 | Continued Collaborations & Remixes | Insomniac / Various |
| 2020-2025 | Ongoing Releases & Festival Circuit | Various |
Live & Touring
RIOT has established themselves as consistent presences on the festival and touring circuit across multiple continents. Their booking representation spans North America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe, indicating their professional infrastructure and global appeal. The duo approaches live performance with the same technical attention they bring to studio production. RIOT’s festival sets showcase their understanding of pacing and audience engagement, typically opening with mid-tempo progressive tracks and escalating through their biggest collabs and recognizable tracks as crowd peaks. They adapt their sets to festival lineups and venue demographics rather than traveling with fixed DJ mixes, earning respect from promoters and fans alike.
FAQ
What genre is RIOT?
RIOT primarily produces electronic dance music with strong focus on dubstep and melodic bass. Their sound incorporates elements from progressive house, trance, and hardstyle, creating a hybrid approach that transcends simple categorization.
What is RIOT’s most popular song?
“Wake Up” featuring Kayzo stands as their most commercially successful track with over 20 million Spotify streams, becoming one of the most streamed dubstep tracks on the platform.
How did RIOT start their music career?
Tom Davidson and Daniel Magid founded RIOT in 2015 in Los Angeles. They began by releasing tracks on emerging labels like Monstercat, which gave them visibility within the bass music community and led to higher-profile deals with Dim Mak and Insomniac Records.
Where does RIOT tour and perform?
RIOT maintains representation across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe through professional booking agencies, regularly performing across multiple continents and festivals.
What record labels has RIOT released on?
RIOT has released music on Monstercat, Dim Mak, and Insomniac Records, among others. These labels represent some of the most respected names in electronic music, indicating RIOT’s standing within the industry.
How can I book RIOT for an event?
RIOT maintains professional booking representation through multiple agencies: Brent or Jon at Good Direction Agency for North America, Tom at Fat Cat Music Group for Australia/Asia, and Paul at MB Artists for Europe.
Are RIOT members also solo artists?
Tom Davidson and Daniel Magid maintain their identities within the RIOT project. Their success has come through working together, co-producing, and maintaining RIOT as a unified entity in the electronic music space.
Listen to RIOT
RIOT on SoundCloud
RIOT Online
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Spotify | Listen on Spotify |
| SoundCloud | @weareriot |
| Twitter/X | @RlOTmusic |
| @riotmusic | |
| RIOT | |
| YouTube | RIOT Official |
| Linktree | Everything RIOT |
