Riaan Nieuwenhuis
Riaan Nieuwenhuis is a composer and multi-instrumentalist, based in South Africa. His music spans the genres of Indie Rock to New Age, Classical and Blues. Compositions range from spacious, ethereal and melodic piano, to adrenalin-pumping, power-driven rock instrumentals.
Riaan has travelled the world, exchanging musical ideas and interacting with foreign musicians. Fusing his own ideas with these and local South African influences, he creates dynamic and delicate world compositions while maintaining his originality.
Riaan Nieuwenhuis started playing piano and organ at 6 years of age, and guitar at the age of 8. His initial training was of a classical nature, but very early he started doing improvisations on Blues and Rock. Later Riaan also showed a keen interest for the drums, and he currently utilizes these three instruments equally in his profession as a musician.
After travelling and busking abroad, Riaan returned to Stellenbosch and founded the acclaimed five-piece blues band Delta Blue, with Riaan on keyboard. Riaan toured and performed with Delta Blue for 5 years. They recorded 3 CD’s and played at numerous upmarket venues and events, arts festivals and main stages of major music festivals in South Africa, Namibia, and London.
He has been involved in various CD recordings, on different instruments such as the drums, piano, organ, keys, guitar and slide guitar. One of Riaan’s compositions, the album title track Turn, has been rated as the best track of the album by Pieter Redelinghuys – Insig Magazine. Turn is also recorded on a Grande piano, for the classical compilation CD, Dreamcatcher.
Riaan is an active musician; apart from his 5 years as keyboard player (and occasionally drummer) for the original Delta Blue he has been the drummer of Rock groups AGES and AMAfist, as well as the drummer of Delta Blue side project Boogie Chillen and for Afrikaans hip-hop outfit Piet Potent . Riaan also had a number of gigs with THE VIOLENT FREE PEACE, and also played major Blues Festivals with THE PARLOR VINYLS, as well as recording an album with them.
Riaan’s solo album MEDIATOR is a double album that consists of 12 original solo piano tracks (CD 1), and 11 original full instrumental tracks (CD 2).
His album Instigator, featuring Riaan on guitar, is the first hard rock instrumental to be released in South-Africa. It consists of vibrant Hard Rock guitar riffs, combined with energetic lead fills.
Most recently, his album Collaborator, has achieved great acclaim from both the media and fellow musician’s alike. The album’s single, “Burnside”, remained at number one on the Zone Radio Top 40 for a month.