Riz Ahmed

Riz MC, aka as Riz Ahmed, is an award-winning actor and musician who makes sonically innovative and lyrically sharp music.

Riz graduated from Oxford University in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics and then Central School of Speech and Drama with distinction.

Riz's 2006 debut single 'The Post 9/11 Blues' created controversy across TV, radio and newsprint, and won him a loyal online following.  Since then he has been championed by BBC Radio1 (on the ‘Introducing’ stage at Glastonbury, the Electric Proms, and a Maida Vale session). He has toured the USA and played shows from Fabric to the Royal Festival Hall with the likes of Massive Attack, Nitin Sawhney, Dizzee Rascal, and Mos Def.

Recently, Riz released two singles ‘Radar’ and ‘People Like People’ with global dance innovators Crosstown Rebels, topping the dubstep charts on Beatport and garnering widespread critical acclaim. This November techno pioneers Tiefschwarz will remix his single Don’t Sleep, for release on the same label.

As an actor, Riz's screen debut was the multi award winning 'Road to Guantanamo', BAFTA nominated ‘Dead Set’, and the BAFTA winning and Emmy nominated 'Britz'. He was also nominated for Best Actor at the 2008 BIFA Awards for his performance in the title role in 'Shifty' opposite Jason
Flemyng and Daniel Mays. Forthcoming screen appearances include Sally Potter's ‘RAGE’ alongside Jude Law and Judy Dench, and 'Four Lions' directed by satirical genius Chris Morris.

Having completed an 18-month artistic residency at the South Bank Centre, Riz continues to organize events there – such as the sellout rooftop party ‘United Underground’ - a unique mix of underground club music, high profile acoustic acts, live blogging, art, and interviews with leading filmmakers and activists.

His ambitious and cross disciplinary live show MICroscope debuts at Sadlers Wells as a work in progress in November 2009, and will tour in 2010.

Visit Riz Ahmed's myspace page.