The story of the Franco-British pianist RIOPY reads as if it were the plot of a Hollywood film: from a child in the clutches of a sect to a world-famous star pianist – with the spontaneous help of one of the biggest pop stars of our time. But first things first.
Jean-Philippe RioPy was born in rural France. His mother joined a cult when he was a few months old and took him with her into this dependency and isolation. RIOPY’s childhood was marked by obedience to the sect guru. An old, abandoned piano was his slow way to freedom: he taught himself to play the piano and composed his first songs. He was left entirely to his own creativity, because worldly influences of influences were strictly frowned upon in the sect. It was a long, arduous road to freedom for the musician – but he walked it. On the day he came of age, he fled from the sect and lost all contact with his family. A blatant step – but a self-liberation.
The way to freedom
He got rid of the guru, but not the inner demons for the time being. He struggled with addictions and mental health issues. Depression and obsessions hung over him like a dark shadow. One decision finally changed everything: he moved to Great Britain, studied music, played as a pianist in bars. This is exactly where the aforementioned world star comes into play: none other than Coldplay frontman Chris Martin heard RIOPY play one day. Martin was so enthusiastic that he gave the financially struggling musician a piano… not just any piano, but a Steinway.
If you ask RIOPY, that was one of the most important moments in his life. The fight against the demons became more and more successful: With yoga, meditation and a focus on music, the healing process progressed. Speaking of moving forward: RIOPY’s career did the same – and with giant strides at that. He has long been a world-renowned classic star. His latest album, Tree of Life, topped the US Billboard Classical Album Chart and stayed in the top 10 for an incredible 90 weeks.
“[extended] Bliss”: RIOPY and his path to happiness
His last album “Bliss” was released in 2021. The title means bliss – and that’s exactly what RIOPY seems to have found despite their incredibly difficult past. “The pure sound of the piano together with my own tuning should put us in this state. Music can’t cure everything, but with what’s coming up, it can certainly strengthen our mental state,” he says of his work, which was created during the corona pandemic. The work was recently published as an extended version “[extended] bliss”. You can do “Extended Bliss” by RIOPY listen and stream here.
A testament to the power of music
RIOPY’s story is a testament to how powerful music can be. “The music set me free” he says — and remembers the time when he first discovered the piano as a child of a sect: “I discovered a place in my head where I could compose and design. When I concentrated on the music, there was no room for other thoughts…”
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