Raised in Detroit, London-based Demi Riquísimo is gaining worldwide recognition for his standout acid, Italo house, and disco-inspired sonic palette with support from the likes of Pete Tong, Annie Mac, Seth Troxler, Danny Howard, DJ Tennis, Absolute, Octo Octa, TEED, Ed (The Chemical Brothers), Artwork, Haai, Optimo, CC:Disco, Gorgon City, The Blessed Madonna, Cici, Tom Trago and many more.
Demi is the label boss for his Semi Delicious imprint, which boasts 12 releases including 9 sold-out vinyl-only EPs to date. These releases are a collection of Demi-only EPs and VAs that platform a family of Semi Delicious artists in Manami, Black Loops, Kassian, Manual Daquart, Jive Talk, Inner Zone, Lulah Francs, Harry Oscillate, Gallegos, Baby Rollen, and Tech Support. The label showcases have now reached 8 sold-out shows across London and Paris, collectively selling over 4,000 tickets.
EG caught up with Demi Riquisimo to learn more about his recent adventures, his forthcoming appearance at the SXM Festival 2023 in Saint Marteen, the launch of his new A Lifetime On The Hips sub-label, and more.
EG: Hi Demi! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How are you? Where are you based right now?
Demi Riquisimo: Hey! I’m good thanks. Currently based in Brixton, but right now I’m in New Zealand and heading to California next week!
EG: So, you kickstarted your 2023 with a debut NYD set for Circoloco in Ibiza, right? What was that experience like?
Demi Riquisimo: It was a dream come true, genuinely one of the biggest ticks on my bucket list ever. It was a huge honor as I’ve been going to DC10 and CircoLoco since 2010.
EG: And you’ve been on a bit of a streak with special sets in recent months, including a back-to-back with DJ Tennis at last year’s ADE…Had you guys gone B2B before? How did you guys go about deciding you’d be a good match? What would you say is THE key component to a good back-to-back session?
Demi Riquisimo: We’d never even met before! I got a call asking if I’d be up for it and I jumped at the opportunity. I think the key to a good B2B session is to be completely open-minded and accept going off on tangents. With Manfredi, I feel totally at ease. I really enjoyed our ADE back-to-back, but playing together at Phonox in London was also super special.
EG: Now you are looking forward to performing at SXM Festival 2023 in Saint Marteen, how are you preparing for this gig? First time there? What have you heard about the event?
Demi Riquisimo: My first time, I’m really excited! Very much looking forward to playing a more eclectic daytime set on Friday, where I can road-test a few new bits I haven’t had a chance to yet. But obviously, Sunday will also be great to play on the main stage and bring out some of my trustee club bangers before Dubfire comes on and shows me how it’s really done.
“To me, it’s always been so important to create something that I believe in now, but that I will also believe in say 20 years”
EG: Sounds like you’re set to go! You are also behind your own Semi Delicious imprint. What space does Semi Delicious occupy in today’s musical landscape? What does 2023 look like? Anything you can anticipate on that front?
Demi Riquisimo: To me, Semi Delicious and all that comes under it, the music, the artists, etc, will stand the test of time. To me, it’s always been so important to create something that I believe in now, but that I will also believe in say 20 years. In 2023 we have music forthcoming by Lulah Francs, Corbi, DC Salas, and a collaboration between myself and Michelle Manetti and more!
EG: Now Semi Delicious is set to launch its own sub-label, right? What can you tell us about this? How will this new sub-label be different from Semi Delicious?
Demi Riquisimo: Yes! Our first release is a VA and includes tracks from Abdul Raeva, Aldonna, Inner Zone, Donald’s House, and myself. Semi Delicious is very much a label where there’s something for everyone. A Lifetime on the Hips is strictly all killer, no filler. Music for the club, only!
EG: How do you keep entertained when not in the studio? Any good music, books, or series you’d recommend? Where do you go looking for inspiration?
Demi Riquisimo: I dedicate a lot of time to searching for new artists for the label in clubs, in record stores, and meeting new people whenever I travel anywhere, as well as immersing myself in as many cultures as possible. These things combined really spark inspiration for me.
EG: What would you say is your “dream goal” when it comes to music? Where do you see yourself years from now?
Demi Riquisimo: I have lots of little small wins, but my long-term goal is to just keep a strong, steady momentum. I really believe that the quicker you rise, the quicker you fall. So ultimately the dream goal is to be doing this in many years to come.
“Semi Delicious is very much a label where there’s something for everyone. A Lifetime on the Hips is strictly all killer, no filler. Music for the club, only!”
EG: Can you tell us something about yourself that very few people know about?
Demi Riquisimo: I’m a semi-professional chess and darts player.
EG: What’s next for Demi Riquisimo? What particular milestones are you looking forward to now? Where can your fans catch you next?
Demi Riquisimo: I’ve got solo EPs forthcoming on Life and Death and Higher Ground which I am super excited about. Catch me in Madrid & Tel Aviv where we’ll be throwing Semi Delicious events plus a big run of UK festivals this summer, and 2 more CircoLoco dates. Hope to see you there!
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Demi! We wish you all the best for the future!
Demi Riquisimo: Thanks for having me!
‘A Lifetime On The Hips’ VA HIPS001 will be out on March 3rd. Pre-order your copy here.
Demi Riquisimo is set to perform at this year’s edition of the SXM Festival. Learn more and purchase your tickets here.
Follow Demi Riquisimo: Instagram | Facebook | Soundcloud | Spotify
