RIOTRON’s “Dark Highway” and I”m Sorry” Nominated for Hollywood Music in Media Awards

Canadian retrowave artist RIOTRON a.k.a. Jeff Fettes has been nominated in two categories at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards: The Pop category for the song “I’m Sorry” and the Independent Music Video category for the “Dark Highway” project. “I appreciate that the HMMA’s are making time for Independent artists,” Fettes said. “That’s something really cool I’ve always loved about them.”

The Hollywood Music in Media Awards, which will be handed out during a live streamed awards ceremony on January 27th at 7pm pst, honors original music (Song and Score) in visual media from around the globe including film, TV and documentaries. Also among the list of nominees in various categories are Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross, Taylor Swift, H.E.R., Travis Scott, Haim and Janelle Monae.

The two nods come on the heels of a hugely successful freshman year, which saw Riotron’s music videos for “I’m Sorry” (with actor/comedian Tom Green) and “Dark Highway” rack up over 30 million streams on YouTube, making them two of the most watched Independent music videos of 2020.

Stream “Dark Highway” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlxiNhmGKyg.

Stream “I’m Sorry” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iZYa1Mear4.

The alter-ego of Canadian indie songwriter Jeff Fettes, Riotron is an electro-pop project from Winnipeg, Canada that combines elements of 80s synthwave, EDM, and even some jazz into a unique sound. The name is derived from the hit song ‘Rio’ by Duran Duran and the 1982 fantasy sci-fi film Tron.

Riotron streaming on:

Spotify

Apple Music

What others are saying about Riotron:

“As Canadian retrowave artist Riotron puts it in his new song, making bad choices is like driving down a “Dark Highway” — you’re not stopping, but pretty soon you’re going to crash. The ’80s-inspired single sees Riotron trying to regain control of his choices as he sings “I’m looking for help, I’m looking for answers/ I’m driving through hell, spiraling out of control.”- Billboard

“…an ominous 1980s-era Phil Collins ‘In The Air Tonight’ vibe with heavy drum pads and an excellent guitar solo. And the video’s mix of darkness, animated alternate universes, and twists in the storytelling (a la ‘Thriller’) complete the throwback fun in mini-movie fashion.”- Instinct Magazine

“Riotron is creating the type of thumping retrowave that makes us stay up all night, even in quarantine.”- Vanyaland

“… an instant heart-grabber.”- Nocturnal Times

“driving, melodic elements of electronica, synth-pop and new wave guitar…”- Indie Band Guru