Riku Lätti

Riku Lätti (11 June 1973 – 15 December 2012), was a South African singer, songwriter and writer. After Riku matriculated in 1991 at Hoërskool Florida, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, he studied philosophy at University of the Witwatersrand where he finished his honours degree. He now goes by the name Victor S. Wolf and claims that Riku Latti is "dead".[1]

In South Africa Riku collaborated with superstars such as Steve Hofmeyr, Laurika Rauch, Paul Riekert among others. His songs have been performed and recorded by people like Karla du Plessis, Theuns Jordaan, Laurika Rauch, Jakkie Louw, the all-girl punk band The Pheobes and the jazz outfit Tsunami and Izak Davel.

In 2005, he broke onto the international music scene when he completed his first tour in Belgium and The Netherlands. In 2006 during a follow-up tour through Europe he performed with Stef Bos. On October 1, 2007, Lätti releases his first album in the Benelux (Akoesties). For this album he re-recorded some of his best songs in a stripped-down version, using only his voice and a piano or a guitar.

Riku together with Jahn Beukes wrote the music for the award-winning SABC television series Hopeville. Hopeville won the prestigious The Rose d'Or in Switzerland for best international TV series. It was also nominated for an Emmy Award. Other scores include the soundtrack for KykNet series Wie lê waar and the drama series Vlug na Egipte.

He won a South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) for his sound design and film score for the feature film Die Wonderlike Avonture van Hanna Hoekom.

Other awards Riku has won include 2 GMT (Geraas Musiektoekennings). (The first for best Alternative Artist for his album Pleister vir my Nerwe. The second for best male vocalist for his album Aan't sterre tel.) And a Vonk Music award for his album Die President se keuse.

His greatest work before his death was a collaborative album Radio Lava with Jahn Beukes and Arnaud van Vliet featuring original work from Huyser Burger.

In his last act before his death he accused the South African media of not having transformed after the end of Apartheid.

He is also the chief in charge of zimdollar, an Afrikaans cult newspaper.

There is also a Finnish pop singer of the same name.

Albums

  1. Electric Chair
  2. Hey hey hey hey
  3. Seveneight
  4. Crazy like a bird
  5. Muscatoman
  6. Cool Kids
  7. 99
  8. Everything
  9. One fine day

Featuring musicians Peter Auret, Max Loubscher, Justy Range, Willem Moller (who played with Johannes Kerkorrel) and Stefan Ackermann

  1. Sterre
  2. Rooirok
  3. Pakpoort
  4. Onder my asem
  5. Jas
  6. Agter my rug
  7. Valley
  8. Verander
  9. Stuikel
  10. Waar is jy
  11. Laughing

Featuring musicians Peter Auret, Max Mikula, Brendan Ou Tim, Bob Biggens Hendrik Coetzee The album won the GMT Award for Best Alternative Afrikaans Album

  1. Slaap
  2. In die begin
  3. Reën
  4. Moet nooit die belangrikheid van goeie mond higiëne onderskat nie
  5. Slaap maar weer
  1. Aan almal
  2. Saamstaan
  3. Dis te laf
  4. Suit
  5. Staar
  6. Nou
  7. Hoekom is jy bang vir my
  8. Eiland in die son
  9. Die laaste wals
  10. Tussen my en jou

The album was a collaboration between Riku and Jean Marais (MoShang) with contributions from Ewald Cress. It was hailed by the media as "the most progressive Afrikaans album ever".

  1. Oorlogtyd
  2. Medisyne mens - with Steve Hofmeyr
  3. My Amerika
  4. Op die maan - with Laurika Rauch
  5. Staar
  6. Waar is jy
  7. Verander
  8. Osama Bin Laden - with Paul Riekert
  9. Soms - with Liela Groenewald
  10. Deesdae
  11. Smoorverlief

Featuring musicians Peter Auret, Jonathan Crossley, Cesare Cassarino, Rory Gaddin The album won Riku the GMT Award for best male vocalist.

  1. Afgrond
  2. Strate
  3. Eenling Is Die Mens Gebore
  4. Hekkie
  5. Hoofstroom
  6. Om En Om
  7. Onthou Jy Nog
  8. Blom
  9. Ysbeer
  10. Die Cool Wat Deur Die Kerk Is
  11. Sneeuwitjie Se Partytjie
  12. Voor Jou Oe
  13. Weet Van Beter
  14. Jeane Se Partytjie

Featuring Jahn Beukes and Arnaud van Vliet.

  1. Hoofstroom
  2. Ysbeer
  3. Pakpoort
  4. Afgrond
  5. Somer
  6. Blom
  7. Voor Jou Oë
  8. Aubade II
  9. Stertrap
  10. Strate
  11. Sunday's Like This
  12. My Amerika
  13. Onder Jou Asem
  14. Op Die Maan - with Jelle Amersfoort
  15. Dood Spoort (hidden track by Jelle Amersfoort, Dutch translation of Hoofstroom)

Benelux-release only, acoustic recordings with Riku on piano and guitar.

Kinderalbum/Children's album Stories and songs

Original soundtrack for the film

References

  1. ↑ http://www.rollingstone.co.za/opinion/item/2566-the-death-of-riku-laetti-and-the-birth-of-victor-s-wolf

External links