Riovaz Evolves in the Haunting "Lavender Town"


Riovaz, Jersey City’s most exciting export of genre-eschewing underground hits, is only getting better with every go. His latest single “Lavender Town” meets hyperpop with crippling nostalgia, wielding the vintage Pokémon graveyard to embody the mourning of a lost love.

“I don’t wanna stay / I just wanna leave," muses our lovesick hero. Amid a sonic whirlwind, Riovaz is haunted by the demise of a once lover. “Lavender Town,” a village in the original Pokémon games, is a burial ground inhabited by Ghost-type Pokémon. Bleak and unsettling, it fittingly encompasses how loud a sudden absence can be, intangible and evasive. It’s a play only he could pull off so seamlessly, but it’s this exact specificity of artistic wit that got him named one of Billboard’s “21 under 21.”

His stormy inner conflict contrasts the vibrant and atmospheric pulse of “Lavender Town,” as he navigates themes of loss over hypnotic synths. Riovaz continues to experiment with the fusion of genre, evolving musically like a Pokémon himself. The single will surely serve as a standout during his national 'God Is A DJ tour,' kicking off in October this year.

A beacon of hope for those wanting to alchemize torture into art, Riovaz digs through his own carnage and bears all for the world to watch, and the world is certainly watching. With momentum that’s only building, Riovaz knows he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be. “This is my calling,” he proclaims. “There's no way I’m doing anything else.”

Watch the "Lavender Town" video below:



Related Articles

Pop Star Seanna Pereira Has Entered the Conversation [Q&A]

Pop Star Seanna Pereira Has Entered the Conversation [Q&A]

February 24, 2026 We talked to the budding pop starlet about walking the tightrope of celebrity culture and music, the pop marketplace, and her upcoming EP.
Author: Robert Frezza
pop
Welcome to Paracosm: Absolutely’s Universe of Limitless Childlike Wonder

Welcome to Paracosm: Absolutely’s Universe of Limitless Childlike Wonder

February 20, 2026 Absolutely, a member of Ones To Watch’s class of 2026, has released her second album Paracosm, a meticulously crafted universe of whimsy that blends pop, electronica, jazz, and R&B.
Author: Chancey Stefanos
pop
Claire Rosinkranz Reintroduces Herself On Flowery And Flawless Sophomore LP 'My Lover'

Claire Rosinkranz Reintroduces Herself On Flowery And Flawless Sophomore LP 'My Lover'

February 16, 2026 Claire Rosinkranz has always had a knack for bottling lightning, with fizzy, sugar-rush hooks that feel like they were crafted for maximum replay value. But on her sophomore album My Lover, she sharpens that instinct into something more dimensional.
Author: Alessandra Rincon
pop