VYCEROY
Vyceroy is a versatile writer/producer duo composed of Riley Friesen and Derek Mount. The partners have collaborated on custom pieces for feature films (Disney, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal) and numerous records for major labels (Warner Bros., Atlantic Records, Capitol Records), topping Billboard charts with eight number-one hits and fifteen top-ten songs. Their songs have been used in sporting events (NFL Network, CBS, ESPN), commercials (Subaru, Target, Nokia), video games (Tony Hawk Pro Skater, Rock Band, RBI20), and more.
Friesen and Mount combine hooky melodies with innovative production to create an inventive sound that is original and compelling. Their diverse collaborations range from fresh indie vibes to epic hip-hop jams, yielding contagious anthems appropriate for cardio classes and cruising convertibles.
MOST INFLUENTIAL ALBUM
RILEY: SPEAK FOR YOURSELF / IMOGEN HEAP
Imogen Heap was an artist that immediately captured me with the complexity of production. It was one of the first records that made me want to learn how to play more than a guitar or bang a drum. The attention to detail and unending creativity still compels me to make intricate yet meaningful music. It was the kind of music you could hear the labor in. I remember watching a DVD (remember those?) about her making a record in her childhood home she converted into a studio. I thought if there was any life for me it would be turning knobs and pushing buttons as much as I could.
DEREK: SONS FROM THE BIG CHAIR / TEARS FOR FEARS
This is the sound of my childhood. Those glassy guitars, savory synths, and impassioned British vocals still hold a special place in my heart, and all 8 of the new wave gems have stood the test of time! The Donnie Darko scene with “Head Over Heals/Broken” is pure magic, and “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” might still be my favorite pop song (and favorite Top 40 guitar solo) of all time. It’s also worth noting that I’ve been known to sing “Shout” at karaoke a time or two. “Songs from the Big Chair” is the kind of record that makes you feel like the band is omniscient, and everything matters. It’s as if the world around you is moving in slow motion while you listen to it. It was lightning in a bottle, and it improves with age.