A Chat with Riconoflow (30.06.26)
With his latest single, ‘U Ain’t The Only One’, Riconoflow turns personal heartbreak into an uplifting anthem of resilience, blending house grooves, hip-hop influences, and bilingual storytelling. Drawing on a life shaped by Brazil, the United States, and Puerto Rico, the artist has crafted a sound that feels both deeply personal and globally inspired. As he prepares to unveil his debut EP, Disruptive Beauty, released one track at a time, Riconoflow discusses healing through music, finding authenticity, and the experiences that continue to shape his creative journey.
OSR: ‘U Ain’t The Only One’ explores the moment when heartbreak begins to turn into healing. What personal experiences or emotions inspired the song?
Riconoflow: I drew inspiration from my own heartbreak and what it took to get back to a place of peace. Life happens in cycles, doesn’t it? Sometimes we forget and think we’re going to stay on that low forever, but the truth is that time heals all.
OSR: The track blends house music, hip-hop influences, and melodic vocals. How did you arrive at this particular sound, and what drew you to combining these genres?
Riconoflow: I was always a hip-hop head first and foremost, so that’s what I’ve listened to and been influenced by the most over the course of my life. I discovered house music in my early 20s while living in Miami, and I really fell in love with it. To a point where that’s all I was listening to. Slowly, I came back to hip-hop and was listening to both genres a lot. At that point, to my own creation, I just didn’t feel at home making straight hip-hop tracks anymore. It didn’t feel like that’s who I was…so I decided to start creating using house-type beats, and that felt authentic – it felt effortless. So I just kept running with it.
OSR: You move seamlessly between English and Portuguese in your music. How does writing in two languages shape your creative process and storytelling?
Riconoflow: I don’t actually write lyrics down on paper. I create on the spot while recording, so it almost feels like a conversation. With me living in the US for so long, my brain is constantly switching between the 2 languages, so when it comes time to record and create, it happens naturally. There are certain things that are better expressed in one language and other things in the other. I have both of these tools in my toolbox, so why not use them both? That was kind of the realization I had at one point, which allowed me to be free in that sense.
OSR: Having lived in Brazil, the United States, and now Puerto Rico, how have those different cultures influenced your identity as an artist?
Riconoflow: I think of Brazil as my mother and the US as my father. I would not be who I am without both countries, and they hold equal parts in my heart. Brazil gave me tender love and affection; it gave me my flavor and my passion. It really nourished the romantic in me. The US gave me tough love. This is where I learned about hard work and sacrifice. I arrived as a boy with nothing but a suitcase, and I became a man. Puerto Rico is a place where it’s so easy to feel inspired. It’s an island, it’s tropical, and it’s hot! You’re surrounded by nature all the time; everywhere you look, it’s a postcard.
OSR: Producer Medeirin handled the production, mixing, and mastering of the single. What was the collaborative process like, and how did you work together to bring the song to life?
Riconoflow: Funny story about Medeirin is that we haven’t actually met in person yet, so everything was done on calls, WhatsApp audio and FaceTime. We’ve been working together for a few years, so he already understands and knows my sound and knows what I’m looking to create. This makes all the difference. We’ll finally have a live in-person session this coming July, though.
OSR: Your upcoming EP, Disruptive Beauty, is being released through a waterfall strategy, with a new song every two weeks. What made you choose this approach, and what can listeners expect from the project as a whole?
Riconoflow: This is my debut EP, so I really don’t have another experience to compare it to, but I thought that this way each track would get its own moment rather than just releasing all of them at once. The project is a journey through the cycle of falling in and out of love and back to love again. I believe we live this cycle again and again until we settle with someone or keep living it endlessly if we end up never settling. The EP has a song for every season of this beautiful cycle.
OSR: You released music consistently throughout the past year. How has that discipline helped you grow creatively and professionally?
Riconoflow: Practice makes perfect. To get to that point where I could release music monthly, I had no choice but to be very consistently creating new tracks and in doing so. I was improving, I was sharpening my skills. Professionally speaking, with each release comes an opportunity to learn something new or to improve on the business end of the equation, which is just as important as the music being good. Release strategy, budgeting, visuals, promotion, the list goes on. These are some of the areas I got to work on monthly, in addition to the artistry
OSR: Beyond music, you’re a surfer and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. Do those pursuits influence your songwriting, mindset, or approach to your career?
Riconoflow: 100%. Sports really help with dealing with life. I think everyone should have one as a hobby. Particularly in my case, surfing and jiu jitsu influence my approach to life as a whole, not only my career. When you surf, you are in direct collaboration with nature in order for the activity to happen. It’s not something you can do whenever you wish. The elements need to come together and allow you to do it. You need to be patient, and you need to surrender to something beyond yourself. Without getting too deep into it, jiu jitsu teaches respect, honor and resilience. All of these virtues are key for a happy life. And I do my best work when I’m happy.
OSR: A visualiser and behind-the-track video accompany this release. How important is visual storytelling in helping fans connect with your music?
Riconoflow: I think it’s fundamental. I want people to really connect with my music, and adding a visual to the sound is a major way to help this connection happen. I also did the behind-the-track video because I wanted people to really understand where the track came from. Who’s the actual person and the feelings behind the music.
OSR: At the core of your work is a mission to spread love, light, energy, and optimism. What do you hope listeners take away after hearing ‘U Ain’t The Only One’ for the first time?
Riconoflow: That there’s always another one out there. There’s another person, another chance, another opportunity to be happy. Just believe in yourself.
Many thanks to Riconoflow for speaking with us. Find out more about Riconoflow on his Instagram and Spotify.
