Andrew P. Reilly

Andrew Reilly (b.1987) is a prolific composer, songwriter, and accomplished electronic musician based in Minneapolis, United States. When he was young, he became interested in video games, especially their soundtracks. His creative spark pushed him to dabble with video game programming, which, of course, called for original music to fit the action. Though untrained in music at the time, he discovered a free MIDI sequencer and began experimenting with sounds, creating his own background music for his games. Over time, he became enthralled by cinematic music of all kinds, learning to play his favorites on his parent’s old upright piano to get a sense of their form, harmony, and composition. The experience left a permanent impression on his mind and soul, convincing him to take music seriously and to study it at a higher level.

In 2005, he enrolled in the University of Minnesota’s Music Theory and Composition program, testing out of first year theory and diving into the world of classical composition. There, he received first place in a regional orchestral composition competition and earned several departmental music awards. Additionally, he received a grant to score three full-length theater productions, including music for The Diviners which earned him a prestigious award for music from the Kennedy Center in New York.

In 2009, he graduated Cum Laude with Honors. Shortly afterwards, Andrew fell in love with many varieties of electronic music, including everything from Ambient to Electro House. Inspired to create his own sequenced compositions, he started layering acoustic instruments, synths, and samples to design novel musical textures that have been described as both emotionally moving and energetically engaging.

By combining his classical training and experience with modern electronic production, his musical voice started to develop, leading to an ever-growing, loyal base of listeners. Under the alias ‘Riff Kitten,’ Andrew amassed millions of streams in several years for his unique and recognizable brand of music, including both epic vocal songs and evocative instrumentals. His unconventional Christmas song ‘The Gift’ was licensed by an HBO series in 2020, and in 2023 he has had his music included in four A-List music libraries.

Currently, Andrew is seeking new challenges, taking a break from ‘Riff Kitten’ while diving deep into World Music, particularly inspired by the traditional sounds of his Arabic heritage.