Sound That Resonates

Vibing with Singer Ria706

By Natalie Downey

She sits at the bar, unassuming, calm, there is a glow to her. She talks of a life spent singing. There’s a secret passion in her eyes, it’s easy to see - she’s more than just a musician. She doesn’t just sing; she creates a completely new and unique sound, and she moves through music, and invites the city to dance along.

Briana Wilson, aka “Ria706,” grew up in Columbus and the surrounding area, spending some of her early years in Atlanta, then returning to Columbus to attend CSU as a music major. By the time she was in college, she knew she had a gift for making music. Her time spent in symphonic orchestra playing instruments such as alto sax, bass clarinet, and basson, as well as singing in church, gave her a foundation of experience and insight into the avenue of art she hoped to travel.

Ria706 From “Pull Up” Video

Gumbo Sampson Visuals

As a child, Ria grew up listening to her grandmother sing in church. She nostalgically remembers a time when her grandmother was spontaneously called upon to sing as the church service was wrapping up a revival. “There was this song that she sang that touched everybody,” Ria remembers. But Ria recalls that it wasn’t the song her grandmother sang, or her voice in particular, though she had great talent, that touched people so deeply. It was the remarkable way she connected with her audience. “Just watching the response people had to what was inside of her was amazing. I wanted to touch people like that,” Ria says. “I want people to connect with something bigger than me.”

Singing in church led to a deepening love for music, and Ria began composing in high school, developing her own style. She looks to a diverse array of music for inspiration. Today, her music is all-original, and she collaborates with other local artists to grow and develop her ideas. “Ninety percent of my music started with my own idea and instrumentation,” Ria says. “I play around with ideas in my mind and go from there.”

Ria records her music locally and plays with other local musicians, such as local band Create. She speaks in glowing colors of the many local artists she’s had the privilege of working with.

From left to right Top Row: Wayne Black, Myke Grizzly, Ria706, Josiah and Joshua Fiveash of Siantz Bottom row: GXCHY, The Tye Dye Intellect, Manny Black

provided by Ria706

With musical influences such as Erykah Badu, Tweet, Missy Elliot, and Ari Lennox, Ria’s sound is smooth and addicting, with a genre that doesn’t quite have a title, one that is all her own. “It’s kind of an electric, hip-hop, soul fusion,” she explains. She admits to intentionally listening to music outside of her genre to stretch her creativity, spark inspiration, and deepen her understanding of music composition.

Whether it can be effectively put into words or not, her sound is authentic, coming from a place of natural talent and a commitment to creating quality work to share with the community. When she commits to composing, she has a method to getting the work done, and doesn’t stop until the finished product is one she can be proud of.

A performer must put out what they say they’re going to put out, whether they feel like it at every performance or not. Ria recognizes the energy people have put into supporting her work, and strives to return that energy with her own best performance, every time. “There are times when I wasn’t feeling it,” she says, “But I went out and gave the best show I could. You give the show you said you were gonna give, cause your name’s on that bill, and they came to see you. Give all of what you have.”

Ria706 at Garry Pound Studios

Photo By Tony Pettis

What Ria has is genuine talent, and it’s easy to see that making music is about more than just singing to her: it’s an opportunity to connect with and inspire the community, to share her soul with the world, and to make the city sound a little sweeter.

Ria can be found playing live music around Columbus and the surrounding areas. She has taken the stage in Atlanta on numerous occasions. Her music, including an EP titled “R” and single “Pull Up,” can be found on all music platforms. Ria has content dropping in the near future on social media, and a video set to drop in the beginning of December. For more information about Ria706’ music, follow her on all social media platforms @_ria706.