Riz La Teef | Too Hot

Riz La Teef is a London based DJ specialising in the underground UK sounds of Garage, Grime and Dubstep. Known for being an advocate for the lost art of cutting dub plates. He runs the South London Pressings record label to release emerging artists and has just taken up a new weekly residency on the mighty Rinse FM.

How did you get into DJing?

When I went to Uni many years ago, the guy I lived with had decks, so I used to muck around on his – then got my own pair of turntables and it went from there!

Where did your interest in garage, grime and it’s off shoots come from?

I used to watch Channel U a lot when I was growing up and that got me into garage & grime. Then again when I went to University dubstep had begun to pop off so it was a natural progression to then get into that. Going to various raves with huge sound systems just really cemented my love for that type of music, which I don’t think will ever leave me.

You’re well known for cutting dub plates, what inspired you to go down this path when most others have gone completely digital?

Cutting dubplates used to be the norm – I saw all my heroes cutting dubs (such as Skream, Mala, N-Type etc), and heard the way they sounded in the clubs and so I basically wanted to emulate them. I was fascinated by dubs, you could have your own one off that virtually no-one else had, it gave me a real buzz haha. Unfortunately I don’t cut as much as I used to any more for varying reasons, but dubs do still hold a very special place in my heart. You can’t beat the smell of an acetate.

You have just started a new residency on Rinse FM, how did that come about?

Basically Migz who now is the Radio Programmer at Rinse hit me up and asked if I wanted to do a residency (the film’s coming out soon haha). Joking aside, it was a proper honour because when I initially started out getting a Rinse guest mix was my goal and now 10 odd years later to have a weekly show is pretty mind blowing. I’m really enjoying doing it and hope people can feel that from the first few shows I’ve done!

What plans do you have for your South London Pressings label?

I do in fact have 4 releases lined up that should be dropping this year, the problem is the nightmare pressing plant delays for vinyl at the moment, it’s holding everyone back. Hopefully it should be worth the wait, I can reveal that SLP006 will be my man DJ Crisps returning to the label with a feature from Ell Murphy. It’s a proper nice record and can’t wait to get it out there!