Last night, I saw PRESIDENT live in Amsterdam. Not just a band. Not just a show. It felt more like walking into a temporary state. A rally. A ritual. A reminder that creation, when done with intent, still bends reality in small but meaningful ways. The room was packed. Sold out show, max capacity 350 people. Flags waved. Symbols everywhere. A masked figure at the centre of it all, pulling the crowd into something that felt larger than music. Less “concert,” more collective agreement that we were all here for the same reason, even if none of us could quite articulate it yet. “You’re about to witness history” over the speakers. Tonight, everything lined up. And when you’ve been doing creative work long enough, you learn to pay attention when that happens. Twenty-two years isn’t an accident The venue was celebrating its 22-year anniversary. 2026 is also the 22nd year that AltSounds still breathes life into its unique form. Stronger, more creative than ever. AltSounds, for context, is the original creative outlet of RIOT’s founder and creative director, MUG5. It’s where I first learned what it meant to participate in culture instead of just consuming it. Where I got my first […]

Content used to feel like discovery—now it feels like survival. As platforms worship retention, brands flatten nuance, culture loses texture, and creativity gets engineered for the pulse, not the mind. This is the attention crash—and the way out is intention, craft, and making work with teeth again.

Brands don’t grow from decoration. They grow from disruption. This guide unpacks what creative agencies really do — and why the right partner changes everything.

Meet President—the mysterious band blending Fightstar energy with Sleep Token aesthetics. Here's why they’re the future of masked rock.

Marketing is moving in a new direction. People care more about honesty, fairness, and how companies affect the world around them. That means brands can’t just focus on selling — they have to think about how they act, and what they stand for. More and more, customers are choosing businesses that try to do better — whether that’s using less waste, treating workers fairly, or being open about how things are made. And that choice matters. According to the BBC Global Minds Sustainability Survey, 78% of people say a clear commitment to sustainability makes them value a brand more. 74% say it affects what they buy, and 60% are even willing to pay more for products that are kinder to the planet. This journal post looks at how this change is playing out — in fashion, luxury, tech, and beyond. You’ll learn why brands are starting to care more about sustainability, and how agencies like RIOT are helping them take action in real ways — not just say the right things. At RIOT, we’ve worked with brands like Coachtopia — Coach’s sustainability-focused label — to create work that feels honest, fresh, and forward-thinking. From design choices to digital campaigns, we’re […]

Explore how David Bowie redefined art, music, and identity with his fearless creativity. From his collaborations with legends to his personas like Ziggy Stardust, Bowie’s influence spans generations.

New York City hums in the background, a pulsing heartbeat as timeless as the art within the MET’s storied walls. On a quiet afternoon, I wander through the halls, eyes drifting over centuries of masterpieces, not yet realizing I’m about to stumble upon something that will shift my creative universe. I’m here to soak in inspiration, to get lost in the kind of art that breathes life back into you. I roam freely, letting my curiosity guide me. I find myself standing before an exhibition I hadn’t expected: Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty. The name, bold and unapologetic, sends a shiver through me and the hairs on my arms stand up. I step inside, not quite sure what to expect but am feeling drawn in by an indescribable pull. As I move slowly from piece to piece, the darkness and individuality of McQueen’s art grips me instantly. It’s like walking through a fever dream—a world where beauty and brutality hold hands, where the fabric seems to whisper secrets from another world. I can’t help but feel a pang of regret, realizing that I’m discovering this after McQueen is gone. I wonder how I hadn’t known about him until now, and I […]

Rockstar Games has redefined the gaming landscape with titles like Grand Theft Auto III and Red Dead Redemption. By pushing the boundaries of game mechanics, storytelling, and freedom, Rockstar has cemented its place as a cultural and creative force.

Jamie Lenman, a creative force in the music industry, inspires with his fearless approach to artistry and industry innovation. Dive into the story of this maverick who blends music, design, and vision into a singular, inspiring legacy.

At RIOT creative studios, we’re inspired by innovative studio spaces that fuel creativity, where the extraordinary takes shape in modern creative environments. Recently, whilst looking for inspiration for our very own creative space in NYC, we got thinking about the city we live and create in. We stumbled upon documentary photographer and filmmaker Joshua Charow’s exploration of New York City’s original artist lofts. These NYC creative studio spaces are places where trailblazers transformed empty rooms into breeding grounds for innovation and dynamic creative hubs. These lofts and NYC creative studios aren’t just structures; they’re the lifeblood of New York City, which once lived and breathed artistic expression. Looking for creative studios in NYC that can actually ship the work? RIOT blends strategy, design, and production under one roof—cyclorama & daylight studios, motion control, live-switch capability, and a senior creative team that directs, shoots, and finishes. Book the space, hire the crew, or bring us in end-to-end. Capturing the Soul of NYC’s Creative Studios & Artist Lofts Joshua spent two years diving deep into these legendary creative spaces, resulting in his powerful photography book, “Loft Law: The Last of New York City’s Original Artist Lofts.“ The Loft Law of 1982 was […]

At RIOT, music is the heartbeat of everything we create. It’s the pulse that drives our wildest ideas and keeps us pushing boundaries. We take our cues from the industry’s game-changers—those who’ve ripped up the rule book and redefined what music can be. One name that’s always at the top of our list? Rick Rubin. The mastermind producer whose raw, genre-busting creativity is etched into the soul of RIOT. Rubin’s knack for blending the unexpected and his relentless pursuit of authenticity is what makes him a legend in our book. To celebrate his genius, we’ve embedded a massive 97-hour playlist by GLV Records, showcasing the depth and breadth of his work. Smash that shuffle button, crank up the volume, and let Rubin’s magic be the soundtrack to your day. Trust us, it’s the creative kickstart you didn’t know you needed. That’s not art. That’s commerce. Rick Rubin’s career spans over four decades, breaking boundaries and redefining sound. From co-founding Def Jam Recordings with Russell Simmons to shaping the sound of rock, hip-hop, metal, and beyond, Rubin’s influence is legendary, transcending pure music production. “I don’t really know anything about music. It’s more a way of looking at the world, and […]

Discover the perfect production studio for your project in New York City with our guide on 'How to Choose the Right Production Studio for Your Project in New York City'.