Artist Spotlight
Ask Franky Rizardo what flow means to him, and he’ll likely point you toward the sanctity of the dance floor and the community that’s formed upon it. From the moment the Dutch-born DJ, producer, and label boss latched onto electronic music in his adolescence, that very concept has defined his life and career – seamlessly transitioning from song to song, venue to venue, venture to venture – steadily flowing into the international spotlight. Today, Rizardo has cemented himself as one of The Netherlands’ best-known house and techno exports. He’s graced festival stages of Mysteryland (Amsterdam), Music On, and elrow. He is a regular at global nightlife institutions, including fabric (London), Amnesia (Ibiza), and Sound (Los Angeles). And with his label LTF (Listen to Flow) Records, Rizardo strives not only to design dynamic, genre-bending dance music but also an immersive and copacetic state of mind among his audiences. But before navigating the responsibilities of a full-time artist and label head, Rizardo was simply navigating life as a Dutch teenager, delving into the zeitgeist of electronic music in Europe at the time. “I remember the moment very vividly. I was visiting a friend’s house. They had a music software program on the computer. I remember opening that up, and we were putting audio into the program. I was just completely blow away how that was possible. That was my first hint of, ‘Wow, this is so amazing. This is what I enjoy.’” Quickly thereafter, Rizardo enrolled in a DJ course and started taking up gigs locally. Trance piqued his interest first, and he credits mavericks like Tiësto and Armin van Buuren for igniting his passion for the genre. But Rizardo’s sonic horizons soon expanded alongside his burgeoning community. His friends and classmates would share music amongst their group. Before long, house music entered his repertoire. “I’m still a huge fan of trance,” says Rizardo. “But I like to say, the BPM slowed down as I got older. I remember downloading a set from DJ Roog at Mysteryland in the Netherlands. I was so blown away. Every track hit me on such a different level. At the moment, I knew straight away this is the music I want to make.” Notably, Rizardo’s defined his career with the ability to push himself into new levels of sonic experimentation. He credits artists like Daft Punk for inspiring his eclectic music taste, reflected in the breadth of releases in his catalog across the spectrum of house and techno on labels like Defected, Milk & Sugar, SPINNIN’ DEEP, 8Bit, Ultra Moda — the list goes on. That sonic diversity continues to present itself across Rizardo’s performances and productions. Originals like “Diamond” featuring Ukrainian artist KIRIK deliver an eight-minute deep house journey filled with fluttering piano melodies and vocals. Other tracks like “Ain’t Nobody” (a 129 BPM house remake of the Chaka Khan classic) light up the main stage, regardless of where Rizardo is. “My sound is definitely house music in the broadest sense. That goes for both my music production and my DJ sets. I like to keep things interesting. Maybe we go a little bit deeper. Then we go back to grooving. Then take it a little bit stronger. I think that’s the most fun way to experience a night... Diversity keeps it interesting for me and for the people coming to the show.” Nowadays, many of those shows include Rizardo’s self-curated parties. He founded his brand FLOW in 2015 with friend and collaborator Jasper Poole. Built on the same principles that laid the foundation for Rizardo’s career: Bringing people into the flow state of mind, architecting vibrant gatherings, and establishing meaningful connections while creating unique moments, ultimately resulting in total immersion on the dance floor. Rizardo started FLOW after getting a request from a Dutch radio station, SLAM!, for a weekly show (which continues to this day, approaching its 500th installment). This quickly blossomed into producing live events. Currently, Rizardo and his team produce nearly 25 shows annually, including stage takeovers at festivals like Tomorrowland, Mysteryland, and Extrema Outdoor. FLOW seamlessly led into creating Rizardo’s imprint, LTF Records, in 2020. Today, one of the most exciting aspects of the job for Rizardo is the interplay between studio and stage. He loves discovering a unique sample or melody, molding it into a record through collaboration, then playing it to eager partygoers and awaiting the reception. “Seeing a track grow in popularity is really fun,” says Rizardo. “It’s so much fun to get amazing demos by amazing producers. For example, an artist, Macro Tropeano from Italy, sent me a track called ‘No Me Importa.’ The first time I played that, the response was so huge. Then, I was able to sign that record and bring it back to the public to get more people to listen. I remixed it myself as well. It’s such a fun project to be so closely connected with the music.” As FLOW continues to expand, Rizardo has his sights on new territories like Asia, Australia, and the U.S., with plans to build on his FLOW Freedom Festival internationally. The most exciting thing, he says, is witnessing the respect and acclaim for house music to thrive. “The house music movement is growing. I think once people experience house music on a good club night, it’s there to stay.”
Overview
Franky Rizardo is a globally recognized DJ, producer, and label owner from The Netherlands, known for his seamless blend of house and techno and his influence on the international dance music scene. As one of The Netherlands’ most prominent musical exports, Rizardo has built a career that spans more than a decade, marked by standout performances at some of the world’s top festivals and clubs, as well as his leadership of the acclaimed brand, FLOW.
Rizardo’s journey into electronic music began in his teenage years, when he was first introduced to music production software. Originally inspired by trance, with early influences from artists like Tiësto and Armin van Buuren, he later gravitated towards house music, a genre that would come to define his career. By his twenties, Rizardo had begun to make a name for himself through his releases on respected labels such as Defected Records, SPINNIN’ DEEP, 8Bit, and Milk & Sugar.
His unique approach to DJing and production, which often merges deep house grooves with more upbeat, festival-ready tracks, has made him a regular on some of the world’s most revered stages. Rizardo has performed at iconic festivals and venues such as Tomorrowland, Mysteryland, and Music On, and in iconic venues including fabric (London), Amnesia (Ibiza), and Sound (Los Angeles). This balance of underground club shows and high-profile festival stages showcases his versatility and broad appeal.
In 2015, Rizardo launched FLOW, initially as a weekly radio show on Dutch station SLAM!, but it soon expanded into a internationally recognized event series. The FLOW brand now hosts over 20 events annually, including stage takeovers at major festivals like ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event), Colorado Charlie, and Extrema Outdoor. This past summer, Rizardo hosted and sold out his own festival for FLOW in collaboration with Dutch party brand JOY, attracting an impressive 14,000 attendees.
With FLOW, Rizardo aims to create more than just a music event—his goal is to cultivate a community centered around the "flow state of mind," offering audiences an immersive and inclusive experience on the dancefloor. In the past, FLOW parties have seen performances from reputable names like East End Dubs, Max & Luke Dean, Sidney Charles, Prunk, Locklead, and Lauren Lo Sung. The brand’s influence continues to grow, with plans to expand its presence into the U.S., Australia, and Asia.
Building on the success of FLOW, Rizardo founded LTF Records (Listen to Flow) in 2020. Through LTF, Rizardo nurtures emerging talent while continuing to release his own productions. The label has become known for its genre-bending releases and attention to detail, often spotlighting fresh sounds within the house and techno spectrum. Releases on the imprint include names such as Simone Liberali, Ferra Black, Easttown, Tre Reynolds, and many more.
Rizardo’s ability to straddle multiple roles—DJ, producer, event curator, and label head—has cemented his place as one of house music’s most dynamic figures. His sound, rooted in house but constantly evolving, is characterized by a balance of deep, melodic rhythms and high-energy elements that keep audiences engaged, whether they’re on a packed festival stage or in a more intimate club setting.
As Franky Rizardo continues to evolve and innovate in his career, he shows no signs of slowing down. With his expansion into territories like the U.S. and Asia, Rizardo has been taking FLOW internationally, proving that house music, when curated thoughtfully, has the power to unite people from all walks of life.
