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BIO: Tony DiNardo, known by his stage name RiKToNE, is an American electronic music producer and DJ from Cleveland, Ohio. He is recognized for his high-energy, psychedelic sound, blending elements of psytrance, hardstyle, and techno to create immersive and driving tracks that reflect his experimental style. This earned him the nickname “The Mad PSYnTIST.”

Based in Cleveland, RiKToNE has released music on notable labels such as GeoMagnetic, Goa Records, and Ovnimoon Records. He has produced standout tracks like “Mad Psynce,” “Stitious,” and “Goa Head.” His mixes and live sets are celebrated for their intensity, hypnotic rhythms, and innovative creativity.

RiKToNE is steadily gaining recognition within the underground electronic scene, known for his bold sound design and commitment to shaping the future of psychedelic dance music.

What’s the story behind your artist name,  “ RikTone”

Well, the short version is my dad's name is Ricky, and my name is Tony, so it's just a play on Ricky and Tony.

What's the story behind Riktone’s image? The red cross, the face mask?

The mask is because I will probably wear one as I get bigger. This way, I can still go out in public or into the crowd during shows and fests without being noticed. The red cross is for a number of reasons. It has to do with the Knights Templar and the St George's flag. It's also a shout-out to my brothers in the rap group AQUALEO, who wear face paint inspired by the St George's flag.

What is your music and DJ background?

I have been making music in some way, shape, or form for about 30 years, since I was 4 years old and my grandma got me a drum set. She said I sat down and was instantly on beat. Production and DJing, and I have been in the scene for about 13 years. I used to play a lot of shows in Ohio and a few out-of-state ones. I took a long break to focus on production. Then moved states for several years, and then moved back to Ohio.

I have released PsyTrance under Goa Records, and  I make lots of other genres like Hardcore, Techno, Downtempo, ambient stuff, world music, Latin, funk, and even had a tune on alternative radio. I hit the studio daily, no days off, and plan to take this to the very top. I have the skills and drive to do it, and I am very creative and bring something different. Although I think I have a shot at breaking into a mainstage position,

I'm very underground. I mostly play real raves in illegal warehouses and spots around the Midwest.

Are you in your 30s, 40s, or 50s?

I’m in my 30s

Is age an issue underground EDM artists have to worry about?

Some people say it is, but I dont think so. I respect and get along with the older cats and the younger kids. Everyone seems to respect each other regardless of age. Raja Ram is still packing festivals and throwing down sets at 85 years old, and the crowd is usually younger, so that proves no, it's not so much an issue. As long as everyone is respectful and the older guys in the scene aren't being creepy and creeping on the younger girls, then age isn't an issue. That's the only thing I have seen that's made it an issue, but thankfully, there are plenty of us out there to step in if it becomes a problem or makes someone uncomfortable.

What first got you into producing electronic music?

I have always wanted to produce since I was 10 or 12, when I got into BT and the Crystal Method, but I couldn't afford the gear. I just love playing with synthesizers, to be honest, and took every chance I got. Once I got a little older and had some money, I could buy some gear, and I have been learning ever since.

Why EDM?

I have always had a deep love for electronic music, first exposed to it at around 11 years old. The first track that truly grabbed me was "Smartbomb" by BT. Once I heard The Crystal Method's Vegas album, I was hooked. I always wanted to DJ and Make Electronic music, and I was super intrigued by rave culture even before I ever actually attended an event. But back then, to DJ was a seriously expensive commitment I couldn't afford to get into, not until controllers came out and I had an Income to afford it.

Are you working and in the music scene too?

I do little side jobs and gigs when I need to, but when I got back to Ohio, I was in a position to either start over at my old job or just go all in with music. I chose the latter and gave myself no other option but to make it or die trying, so music is my full-time thing now.

What Genre do you produce? 

I produce everything literally. I just love music in general. Trance and its subgenres are my go-to, but if I like it, I make it at some point. I have funk tunes, hip hop, drum and bass, Pop EDM, Hardcore, Frenchcore, Metal, and I'll blend 'em all together sometimes, as you will see on my second label EP for Goa Records. It's pretty experimental and will probably piss off some purists, but I'm just doing me, so let 'em get mad.

Why do you like psytrance, hardstyle, and techno?

It's hard to say why I like it. When I first heard Psytrance, it was just my favorite sound. Some perfect blend that was super tribal, primal, and organic, yet somehow the most electronic-sounding thing I've ever heard. I just love the creativity of Psytrance; everything about it is such a wild combination. Hardstyle, I love it just for the pure energy. It's like the sound of pure adrenaline.

What’s the BPM?

I don't have a specific bpm. I will go from 80bpm to a few songs I have that are pushing 185-200bpm. My go-to is usually 135bpm, it's just dancey... It's just my favorite, but I switch it up.

What's the mood of your music?

The mood of my songs varies a lot, and they are pretty much my mood at the time I made them. I love deep, melodic, and anthemic sounds. Sometimes ambient and trippy as well

Who or what were your biggest musical influences growing up?

I have so many influences. Too many to name, from Metal bands to classical composers and everything in between. BT and the Crystal Method have probably been my biggest in electronic. Lyktum, Infected Mushroom, Boris Brejcha, and Ovnimoon are other big ones. Ovnimoon was the first Psytrance artist I ever heard, and that blew me away. I got hooked on Psytrance. Funny how it went full circle because about a decade later, Ovnimoon signed me to his label, Goa Records. I still have to fight the urge to fanboy out when I talk to him lol.

I notice some of your songs have a blues vibe. Can you tell us more about?

Yes, I've always loved the blues. I feel it's the one genre you can't fake, you either have it or you dont. Also thought blues and electronic, mainly house, could go well together because the kicks are at a similar pace. I also play guitar and bass, so I got my skill level up and learned a few genres on guitar.

What type of music or genre do you call this?

I call it Delta House, a genre I invented. I put out an EP in 2025 called Redemption. If anyone wants to hear it, it's different. It is Delta blues guitar riffs and solos over house beats with some funk, soul, disco, and southern rock aspects added. I also have a genre I haven't dropped yet, I call AL-Trance-ative. That will come out this year on my revamped version of the Redemption EP.

Is anyone doing the same?

You know, I have heard a song here or there with blues sounds, usually just samples, but to my knowledge, I am the only person making Delta House. At least I have never heard it before, if someone is.

What makes your music different from other EDM artists?

My drive, my output, which is running circles around a lot of artists, and its quality. Mostly my creativity, I'm inventing my own sound and genres, and I am not afraid of experimenting and dont care what's hot at the moment, I just make music. Not many people make original music anymore. They all want to sound like someone else and stick to that one sound or genre, which I get, sticking to what you know and like, but I want people to go from one EP of mine to the next and have it confuse them like Wait, is that him too? Plus, my live sets, you never know what you'll hear. I have dropped from ambient downtempo straight to metal, so expect the unexpected. I absolutely do not try to sound like anyone else. Of course, I have influences, and sometimes you can hear other artists' styles in my music, but it's never intentional. I just do me, with no rules, no specific genres, and no care about who thinks what. I hope people like it, but at the end of the day, I am gonna do what I think is right. It's funny, my most-streamed song and breakthrough tune that hit radio waves on several continents and satellite radio was a song called My Aeipathy that almost never saw the light of day because I thought nobody would like it but me. Sure, glad I decided to put it on the album while uploading, though.

How would you describe your sound to someone hearing you for the first time?

That's hard to really pinpoint or explain to someone because I dont only do one specific sound or genre. A lot of my songs will even switch genres mid-track, so I'm one of those artists where you can't exactly tell if you like me by only one album, because the next one isn't going to spin the same. I feel like I make something that just about everyone will love, and some other projects that they might totally hate. I usually get a sense of what they personally like and suggest EPs and songs they might like. I would say, as a whole, the best words to describe it are melodic, tribal, unexpected, atmospheric, and different. I once had someone tell me after a gig that they didn't know if they should be "eating shrooms on a mothership or running through the jungle with a spear," and I think that's a pretty solid take on most of my stuff, lol.

What are you doing to get your music heard?

I'm utilizing social media, of course. Word of mouth is also huge. I leave stickers all over town and ship some to friends to put out. My stickers have reached as far as Africa and some parts of Asia. I know, and that helps. I am trying everything short of a gimmick to be heard. I also send my music to DJs all over the world. I have local DJs playing my stuff, and I know a few big names like Boris Brejcha and Claude VonStroke have played my songs before, which is amazing because I have been listening to those guys for years. The label also helps promote, especially to the PsyTrance scenes around the world.

What’s your go-to DAW?

I barely use the DAW until it comes to mixing and mastering. Growing up, playing several instruments, I need to be hands-on. I'm actually not a big computer guy, if I'm being honest.

What instruments do you play?

I play all kinds of synthesizers and drum machines. Piano and keyboard, and also Guitar and Bass. The one thing I can't do is drums, which is funny because that is the instrument I started on.

How do you start a song?  With the melody, the drums, or the bassline when building a track?

The way I start songs differs. I usually just get into the studio and start pressing buttons and turning knobs until I start to flow. I tend to start with the orchestrals and the melody, though.

How do you approach making kick drums and bass stand out in your songs?

Mainly just the mastering part and playing with the sound levels until they stand out. I'm an absolute fiend for acid-style 303 basslines. In fact, that's the exact sound that got me into electronic music. I always spend extra time on those to make them sound good and stand out. 

What’s one production tip you wish you'd known when you first started producing music?

That's a hard one, but I would say spend less time on the DAW. I wish I had known about mod synths 10 years ago. It's not for everyone, but I love making it analog; it's all so hands-on. Also, always save it every like 10 mins or so in case your system crashes, that's a big one. (UDEM agrees)

Do whatever you want and use whatever method works for you. My only true advice would be not to release until you get the mixing and mastering to near professional industry standards. I have seen a lot of artists release too soon, and a lot of people may hear it and not give your music another chance after bc it sounds amateur. So I'd say just make it sound good and dont use AI and pretend it's you who produced it. That's lame and disrespectful to so many who took the time and effort to actually learn the process. For me, I'm basically all analog and modular.

How do you decide when a track is “finished”?

Basically, when I fade out or stop, I make my tracks different than most. I make sounds on the synths and machines. Then I make loops out of those sounds and load them all onto a Novation Launchpad and drum machine. Then I do a live recording. Then I will add keys, guitar, and stuff on top. Vocals can be done before or after, and can also be loaded onto the Novation Launchpad. So basically, all of my songs are done as a one-take freestyle for the end product, then I master them and get the sound levels right. My song is finished when the jam session is finished.

What music production advice can you give someone who just started making EDM tracks? 

I would say experiment as much as possible and try different methods, instruments, and programs. I dont like to give too many tips because I believe everyone has a different production method that works for them. I used to take others' advice and tips, and I'm always open to listening, but I just found my way. I like to do it, and I think other artists should figure out a method that works for them. There's no right or wrong way, or one-size-fits-all, for production these days. 

Life....Anything and everything inspires my music. As a Pisces, I'm sure emotion is the biggest part that goes into it.

Are there any genres or artists outside of EDM that influence your style?

Oh, for sure, everything from Metal to Pop can influence my style. I grew up listening to 2pac and Mushroomhead, so a wide variety of music and musicians influences my music. I even make other kinds of music myself. My song "End of the Day" was getting airplay on alternative radio, so I am not strictly an EDM artist.

What do you want people to feel when they listen to your music?

Whatever they need to feel to not feel alone in moments in life that are happy or sad. I hope they feel inspired by anything. If I can do this and make it to the level where some of my favorite artists are playing my music and another one signed me, then you can too. I'm nothing special, so I hope to inspire people to chase dreams and goals. 

As a whole, it's hard to say because I feel that it's not just one scene anymore, it's several. All are cool and unique in their own way, even the mainstream part of the scene is cool. I think it's cool to see electronic musicians next to pop stars. Some people see it as "too mainstream." I see it as we are considered musicians now and taken seriously, where a lot of people assumed it was just a bunch of people on drugs or some other stereotype. 

What do you think about using AI in music?  

See, I think AI is good and bad, but it's here to stay, so I am trying to utilize it to build my own DAW that is 100% customized, the same way you build a webpage or an app using it. I think using AI music apps and claiming you made it is disrespectful to the art form, though, and shows no respect for that. It is no different than ghost writing or ghost producing in my opinion. On the other hand, my guilty pleasure is some of those AI soul remakes of rap songs. Those are pretty good sometimes, I must admit.

Are you concerned with artists who use AI in music production?

I used to be, but no, I'm not in competition with anyone. I'm just focused on my own stuff. I wouldn't collab with them, but what other people do has nothing to do with me.

What’s the biggest challenge for underground artists today?

Trying to make it without a gimmick, and with lots of gatekeepers, personal relationships, and politics splitting the scene, can make it hard. Also, trying to get your music out there now, you have to either spend money or find something to pull someone in within 30 seconds because of what I call TikTok brain.

Where do you see your sound going in the next year or two?

I honestly feel something big is on the horizon. People haven't heard my new stuff yet, but it's pretty epic, and I think it will take hold. Other than that, it will depend on where life takes me to influence my sound. It's hard to say.
Any upcoming releases, collaborations, or shows you’re excited about?

Look out for a few exciting projects dropping in the next few months! I'm particularly proud of Beati Beats vol. 1 and the EP Evocatio, which I consider my best work to date. Both are tentatively scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2026.

Additionally, I'll be re-releasing the album Redemption. This project introduces a new subgenre I've created called Delta House. It's an interesting blend a mix of house music and Delta blues, with elements of disco and soul. Keep an eye out for that one soon!

Where can I find your music?

You can find me on every streaming service, music store, and app. I'm on Soundcloud, Spotify, Amazon, Apple, iTunes, iHeartRadio, YouTube, you name it. You can even find me on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram when you post stories. Just type in Riktone or type it abbreviated this way RiKToNE, and I will pop up. 

Tell us about 2 or 3 recent tracks or albums?

I plan to release a 4- or 5-track EP EVERY month of 2026; they will be released independently. I also have probably 2 to 4 projects coming out on Labels; it's gonna be a big year. I  recommend checking out 

Mad Psynce EP, which is my debut Goa and PsyTrance EP for Goa Records.

EP Redemption (Birth of Delta House)  

I have two albums named Bridges and Bridges 2.0. Bridges was my first release ever. Those two albums touch on tons of different styles, genres, and sounds, some of which aren't EDM, but they show my range quite a bit.

Big Blue House by RiKToNe
Mad Psynce by RiKToNE

Reminisce by RiKToNE

Utulivu Zazu by RiKToNE

My Aeipathy (Riktone's Remix)

XFire (2024 Rework) by RiKToNE

A World You Have Never Been playlist by RiKToNE on