Australian-born but now LA-based RIP Youth (songwriter/producer James Maas) has partnered with the worldwide fitness brand, Peloton to deliver an exclusive remix of his single, “It’s A Vibe”, from top DJ/Producer R3HAB. The remix was exclusively premiered during the ‘Pride Live DJ Ride’ at Peloton Studios in New York on the 10th of June. We got the opportunity to talk to RIP Youth about his collaboration with Peloton, how the the R3HAB remix came about and the Playboy party that started it all.

For those that haven’t heard your music before , how you describe your sound?

It’s entertaining pop music, for a good time. And always has a message should you need one. It's also just easy to listen to but if you need what it’s offering. You’ll hear it.

You have just released your new song, the R3HAB Remix of your song 'It's a Vibe' (Peloton Edit) Tell us about the new track?

It's a vibe was written about two years ago and is the first song for RIPYouth with my voice on it. It’s a song about being enamored with someone and their coolness, a love interest or otherwise. And that you just know if they stayed in your orbit long enough some of their coolness would rub off on you and your work , creating something special That would be “hit worthy” - “a vibe”

“It’s Peloton’s gift to its members for “Pride in the USA” so it’s very colorful… Some might say “an orgy in pastel””

— RIP Youth

Are there plans to release a Peloton inspired video to accompany the R3HAB remix?

The video is out now ! It’s Peloton’s gift to its members for “Pride in the USA” so it’s very colorful… Some might say “an orgy in pastel” we played around with instructors on bikes all doing the video but ran out of time to have it out during pride month so we’ll have to save that theme for another one. I love my Peloton family so I’m sure there will be another opportunity for something fun 80’s inspired bike getups.

This version of 'It's a Vibe' was created for Global Sport Company Peloton's 'Pride 2022' celebrations, how did the collaboration with this multi-national company come about?

I had just shot for Playboy for a new online venture they've created called “Centerfold “ which had come about randomly from its marketing director who lives in my building . They must’ve been short a guy to front Centerfold but anyway I was flown down to Miami to launch at art Basel which was cool and my face was plastered all over the walls with Charlie XCX djing, feeling myself at the party but no one was dancing except one person ! So I ran up to her and started dancing . Turns out she (Gwen Riley) is SVP of Music and Banded Partnerships for Peloton ! We danced the night away and met up when we got back to LA. I asked if they were looking to put a product into music videos and she said she’d do me one better, she’d looked up my music and loved it. Wanted to do a repackage of it's a vibe for pride. I was so stoked , I asked her if she had anyone in mind and that I’d worked with R3HAB on a song with JoJo that never came out and as it happened his manager had reached out to her in January to find something for him to collab with Peloton on so it was one of those perfect coincidences that got it across the line pretty quickly.

“I’d like to say that Cody and I got married after the ride but that would be too selfish of me to steal him like that. ”

— RIP Youth

The song was premiered at the "Pride Live DJ Ride" in New York on the 10th of June. How does it feel to be apart of such an important awareness and inclusion campaign that is recognised worldwide and to have your song used as an Anthem for this?

Dropping the song in Cody and John Michael’s live DJ RIDE was an experience. They’d never had anyone in a studio before where they film all the Peloton content / classes and they’d built all of these massive studios/ headquarters that is literally like the today show building or “sunrise studio’s for Australia. So it felt cool to share the day bringing people in person to debut that with the fave instructor and “Americas boyfriend” Cody Rigsby. We also knew that Cody’s rides get Madison Square Garden numbers so it was the perfect pride awareness kickoff that we needed. The timing on this thing was always meant to be. I’d like to say that Cody and I got married after the ride but that would be too selfish of me to steal him like that.

This is not your first time working with R3HAB, what made you decide that R3HAB was the right artist to reach out to for this project?

The Peloton community has such a loyal solid following it’s really cool to get so many messages From their followers saying how much they loved it. You kind of get the kiss of approval from Peloton and you steal some fans for life, it feels like. Just to witness the power of that brand was amazing to rip.

'It's a Vibe' has received huge radio support both here and in the US and the UK. Were you suprised by how quickly they have gotten behind the track?Australian Radio especially has always been pretty good to me being a relatively new artist from Aus I think they have to fill a certain quota per whatever radio standard they have for homegrown. But I am really always amazed how good my radio plugger Russell Thomas and the music directors are at actually listening and going through all the new acts and giving them solid love. It’s a good barometer of whether I’ve done my work well enough as to how much radio love I see. They truly still are the tastemakers of the world of music. And JoY FM Michael Davies special shout-out for being our biggest supporter!! Love that station.

You have collaborated and written for some huge names including Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Steve Aoki and The Chainsmokers, is there anyone still on your wish list to collab with?

Mariah Carey, this is my camp on campusinterview so I’m going to go with her for her writing capability. As a writer she’s the dream. Legend status. I can die then.

“My biggest highlight I’m having right now with Peloton and fucking R3HAB and his 20million monthly listeners”

— RIP Youth

What’s been the highlight in your career so far personally? And why?

My biggest highlight I’m having right now with Peloton and fucking R3HAB and his 20million monthly listeners !! But honestly maybe it was when I wrote ‘Chemical Rush’ for Brian McFadden and got to see it performed on AGT finale then it went to number 2 on the charts !! And was constantly playing on KIIS .

Your based in LA currently, are there plans to return home to Australia anytime soon? or will America remain your address for the foreseeable future?

Where I live in America reminds me a lot of home with the city by the beach and the cool attitude here in Cali so I’m lucky it hasn’t been too much of a change but I do miss home a lot, and can’t wait to get back twice a year like before the pandemic. Australia is so beautiful it makes America aesthetically speaking look like a giant turd in comparison. So dirty.

If you weren’t a musician what else would you be doing now?

I always liked building things so maybe a carpenter. Or a film producer. I like creating stories !!! Packaging things up and Making them come to life !

Who in your crew or team deserves a shout out but never gets one? And what is they do that keeps your world turning?

Jurgen Korduletsch owns Radikal Records that I’m signed to and he never gets a shout-out like he should, he’s making my dreams come true and gives me the space and creative freedom to realize my potential. While he does have loads of experience from years of successful work and creating the largest independent dance music label in the U.S so I love his opinion. He very often will say to me on matters like single artwork or creative vision “I can’t tell you that , it’s your project, do what you think represents you and the project best” and that it’s a long game and we don’t need to be commercially successful right away. Rome wasn’t built in a day…… How cool,huh ?

What's next for RIP Youth? What can fans look forward to?

I’ve just been approved for an EP so working hard at that at the moment and eventually touring that.

Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for Music Festivals Australia/Music Kingdom Australia

LISTEN TO “IT’S A VIBE (R3HAB REMIX) HERE

Interview by Michelle Symes

July 2022

RIP Youth’s Pride Vibe