Touted “the band to see in Los Angeles” by the NoHo Arts District Music Column, Riddle the Sphinx is an innovative band, bringing to mind artists as diverse as Kate Bush, Loreena McKennitt and Danny Elfman, while at the same time, venturing into unchartered musical territory.
RTS has consistently received accolades from the press for its originality (“one of the most unique bands in Los Angeles,” says NoHo Arts District Music Column) and its charm (“enchanted my socks off,” says All Access M...
Touted “the band to see in Los Angeles” by the NoHo Arts District Music Column, Riddle the Sphinx is an innovative band, bringing to mind artists as diverse as Kate Bush, Loreena McKennitt and Danny Elfman, while at the same time, venturing into unchartered musical territory.
RTS has consistently received accolades from the press for its originality (“one of the most unique bands in Los Angeles,” says NoHo Arts District Music Column) and its charm (“enchanted my socks off,” says All Access Magazine). Their unique style even perplexed the LA Music Awards on what category to include them in for a nomination, before deciding on “Best Adult Alternative Artist of the Year” in 2005. Touching on elements of classical, celtic, rock, pop, world beat, jazz, and folk, RTS strives for one thing: to create great music.
Much of the band’s innovative style can be traced back to its front woman, Christiane Kinney. Lead singer, pianist, and songwriter for RTS, Christiane was featured in Glamour Magazine’s 2005 Woman of the Year issue, and honored with the Toyota Moving Forward Award for bringing music and art therapy to at-risk children, while driving her own inner passion for music. A fiery redhead classically trained in piano from age three, Christiane loves to try new things, such as scuba diving, indoor skydiving, hang-gliding, and firewalking, to name a few. So it’s no surprise that this passion for life comes out in her music.
RTS’s percussionist, Christo Pellani, has a mesmerizing quality on stage. Featured as one of ten “Unsung Drumming Heroes of Los Angeles” by BAM Magazine, he has toured the world playing concerts with the likes of Air Supply, Mary Wells, and The Shirrelles, and has studied music in Africa, Brazil, India, and Bali. The fusion of Christo’s world music percussion and Christiane’s classically-trained piano and vocals blend together seamlessly to create the band’s distinctive sound. Rounding out the group is bass guitarist, Burgundy Morgan, an accomplished musician who add tasteful textures to compliment the band’s signature style.
Christiane recalls, “Some of our teenage fans have told me stories about their RTS CDs mysteriously ending up in their parent’s car CD players, and I was so flattered that our music seems to have a broad appeal.” With a fan base from eight to eighty years old, RTS has indeed captured the attention of music lovers across a spectrum of generations.
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