It’s a weird thing when a press release or an album announcement arrives in my inbox, and I read it only to find a quote from myself. It’s also an exciting, and sometimes flattering thing, and such is the case with the new album from RIFF ROCKIT, whose latest album announcement was quite unexpectedly led-off by your truly. That said, I’m just sharing what landed in the news department below!
Official Announcement:
Bringing a taste of ’80s and ’90s anthem rock to kids, Parents’ Choice® Award winning musician Riff Rockit eagerly anticipates the July 29 release of his third album, If I Could Fly.
Wrote THE ROCK FATHER, “Imagine for a moment a world in which Ace Frehley’s Spaceman alter-ego spawned a guitar slinging son … Now imagine this space suited young man embarking on a career as a children’s entertainer, breaking out kid-friendly power ballads and arena anthems for the toddler set. Intrigued? Welcome to the world of Riff Rockit.”
In the soundscape of If I Could Fly, Riff wanted the guitar placed front and center, so naturally his guitar player had to be the top of the crop. Highly respected by guitar enthusiasts, Alejandro Garcia has toured with Chayanne, Julio Iglesias, and many others. Garcia also co-produced If I Could Fly, along Bob St. John, the legendary guiding force behind numerous Latin Grammys and platinum records for the band Extreme, who also stands recognized for his work with Duran Duran, Collective Soul, Ricky Martin, and many more.
If I Could Fly lifts off with a blast of guitar energy on the album opener, “Food Groups.” If AC/DC and Kansas had a baby and penned the child a song about food groups and eating healthy, this would be it. “Backyard,” a Van Halen-inspired tune with an irrepressible dance beat, follows. The all-things-Hollywood California kitty cat, “Mr. Tux,” brings to mind ’80s electropop in a feline pairing with ’80s rock. If I Could Fly cruises to an expansive conclusion with the album’s title track, a wistful bit of imagination that Riff describes as “Tom Petty mixed with Def Leppard.”
Riff Rockit’s alter ego, indie musician Evan Michael, is a leukemia survivor with a great desire to help those suffering from blood cancers. Consequently, he will donate all proceeds from If I Could Fly to BeTheMatch.org, an organization whose mission is to deliver cures for blood cancers.
Riff Rockit’s debut recording, the self-titled Riff Rockit (2012) was honored with a Parents’ Choice® Award, a NAPPA Award, and a Mom’s Choice Award. Riff Rockit will soon release his first all-Spanish album, Luz Verde Vamos!, and he has also released two DVDs, The Power of Music and Riff Rockit: Live in Concert.
If I Could Fly will be available for purchase at www.riffrockit.com and iTunes, and free downloads of the album will also be available — with a request for voluntary donations — at riffrockitcharities.com, a website dedicated to contributions to BeTheMatch.org.
