G.rizo

Ihu Anyanwu (alias G.rizo) is a first generation Nigerian-American electronic musician, multidisciplinary artist and cultural organizer whose work spans almost 20 years of activity between New York City, Vienna and Nigeria.

Specializing in pop and funk-based dance music, G.rizo has a versatile range with almost two decades of musical excursions in electro, disco, techno and house. With an eclectic palate, and an asymmetric interpretation of dance music, G.rizo, as put by Negative.ch, “provides dance music for sophisticated minds.”

Haven released singles for a decade as a vocalist (on labels such as Codek Records, Gigolo Records, Citinite) and featured on releases by super talented producers (In Flagranti, Patrick Pulsinger, Alexander Robotik, Donovans, Maximilian Skiba, Dubblestandart, Disco Doubles, Gerhard Potuznik, and I-Wolf), the release of her self-released “Active Methods EP” in 2014, with its single “Its Happening” (which Spex Magazine described as “80’s mythical futurism”), gave a hint at G.rizo’s potential as a producer and song writer.

Live shows are where G.rizo shines - exuding pure visceral energy, and getting sullied up by good old sweat and raw emotion. She will go from crooning to rapping in a minute, veering through different funk-based prisms. During the last few years, her live show has progressed to include more live playing specifically keyboards, controllers and effects.

Notable live gigs include: Hugo Boss (Fashion Week Beijing), Radio Soul Wax Tour 07 (Switzerland, Scotland), Die Registratur (Munich), Rio, Panorama Bar (Berlin), Salon Des Artistes (Dusseldorf), Paris-Paris, Nouveau Casino, Triptyque/Les Chiennes Hi-Fi (Paris), Popfest, Celeste, Icke Micke, Flex, Prater Sauna, Grelle Forelle, Wir Sind Wien (Vienna), Spring Fest (Graz), Afrofuturisms Festival @ Stadtwerkstadt (Linz), Dachkantine, Zukunft (Zurich), Scenic, Nublu, Santos Party House (NYC), African Crossroads (Mombasa) and Jake’s Club (Abuja).

Since relocating to Abuja, G.rizo has been actively building up a local electronic music and creative scene with like-minded local DJs, electronic musicians and locations. In 2018, she launched “House x House x House,” a house music party in a private residence. Notably she has DJ’d at Jake’s Club, Quo, Bush Bar Sessions (Abuja); Pop Beach, The Backyard, Lagos Biennale, Lagos Photo Festival, La Taverna (Lagos).

In addition to music, Anyanwu has also explored her interest in social-political topics via conceptual art, exhibiting in solo and group shows since 2011. In 2019, she founded Abuja Art Week: 5 days of curated exhibitions, talks, workshops, screenings and music events at various locations across the city of Abuja, Nigeria.