Contemporary Rock & Jazz Songwriter Dan Riatta Releases New Single ‘Hearts On The Floor’ For Upcoming EP Of Same Name

“No matter the struggle, live music is the antidote.”

That’s the philosophy of Dan Riatta, the songwriter, lead guitarist and driving force behind Riatta, one of the newest indie bands in the New York City music scene. And that is unquestionably the feel – authentic, raw, unfiltered, live – that Riatta brings to their debut lead single and title track, “Hearts on the Floor,” released earlier this week. With influences ranging from Tom Misch to Eric Clapton, he cleverly melds elements of jazz and blues with singer-songwriter and pop-rock on this catchy new single.

Originally hailing from Long Island, Riatta spent his first several years after college in the depths of the NYC corporate world. But “radical honesty and reflection,” he says, eventually led him right back to where he started as a first-grader studying classical piano, which drew him to the power of music.

Riatta’s debut solo EP, to be released in October, is a reflection of this NYC-dweller’s return to his roots as a musician. At the same time, the record – inspired by life events during the year of the pandemic – serves as a metaphorical narrative of a journey through the ups and downs of 2020 that to an extent we can all relate to.

The lead single, “Hearts on the Floor,” is an infectiously dreamy track that arrests the listener’s attention from the jump. Mixed by rock veteran Bryce Goggin at Trout Studios in Brooklyn, it instantly envelopes the listener in a hazy cloud of jazzy ecstasy. Riatta’s rich and smoky vocals conjure vivid images of lush, orange sunsets washing over the ocean and warm summer nights on the beach. He effortlessly lays down smooth and sultry blues riffs that are akin to heavyweights like John Mayer and Eric Johnson.

The one-minute Strat shredding that closes out the song is nearly certain to incite an air guitar solo by the listener, and the smooth yet powerful tone behind the strings resonates loud and clear. It’s a contemporary tune that has potential to reach a vast audience.

“Hearts on the Floor” is an undeniable earworm that is likely to keep listeners warm and cozy throughout the coming fall and winter, and if you like what you hear, keep an ear out for Riatta’s debut EP in October.

Featured Photo by Mightylionshoots