Khris Riddick-Tynes Feels That Vision Without Discipline Doesn’t Move Anything
On a high from his amazing Grammy winning weekend, iconic writer & producer Khris Riddick-Tynes sat down with Galore to discuss his journey of growing up in LA to working with some of the biggest names in music. If you’ve ever wanted to know what it takes to make a name for yourself through discipline, love for music and building long standing relationships, keep reading below!
FEATURE INTERVIEW:
For anyone who’s never heard of Khris Riddick-Tynes, how would you introduce yourself?
I’m Khris Riddick-Tynes — a Grammy-winning songwriter, producer, and executive based in Los Angeles, California. My focus is helping artists bring their ideas to life and shaping records that feel honest, intentional, and timeless.
When you think back to when you first fell in love with music, what memory comes to mind?
My first real memory of falling in love with music was hearing Michael Jackson for the first time. At the same time, I grew up hearing second-line music playing in the house from my Nana. She’s from Louisiana, and my family’s roots are in New Orleans, which probably explains my deep love for drums and rhythm.
Tell us about your upbringing and how where you come from has inspired the man you are today.
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, a true melting pot of cultures. I grew up in Black and Brown communities, and both sides of my family came from the South. My Nana Brenda set the foundation. She was big on structure — homework before anything else, discipline before freedom. That kind of order stays with you, and it’s shaped how I move to this day.
My grandmother Maria, my dad’s mom, was a songwriter, but more than that, she was a hustler. She had an instinct for opportunity and wanted a life that felt bigger than the circumstances she came from. She left Little Rock, Arkansas at 14 and moved to New York on her own to chase her dreams. She came from a rough childhood, which gave her a sharp edge, a relentless drive, and a refusal to be boxed in. I carry that with me. Between the two of them, I learned early that talent doesn’t mean much without the work. You either show up every day and earn it, or you don’t get it at all.
Looking back to when you first began taking producing seriously, what’s something you know now that you wish you knew back then?
Patience — real patience. I’ve even practiced Vipassana meditation to help with that. When I was younger, I wanted everything immediately. My uncle Neal Pogue used to call me “Rush” because I was always moving too fast. What I’ve learned is that everything comes in time as long as you stay in motion. The only way to guarantee failure is to stop.
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In your opinion, how long were you grinding before you got your “big break”?
“Big breaks” are funny, because every time you think you’ve had one, it usually isn’t what you expected. My first real “big break” was probably working with Ariana Grande, and that was about five years in. But when you look at the success of “Snooze” and “Folded“, that’s closer to twenty years into the game. So yeah — this overnight success took decades.
You’ve worked with some of the biggest names in music. Do you have a favorite song you’ve produced?
Picking a favorite song is like picking a favorite kid — it’s impossible. That said, one of the most meaningful records for me was “Honeymoon Avenue” by Ariana Grande, which I produced with Leon Thomas. We recorded the strings in the same studio at Capitol Records where my grandmother recorded her music. She passed away about two months later, so being able to share that full-circle moment with her meant everything to me.
Being nominated for two Grammys and winning both this year is something many never experience. What have those wins meant to you, and was this ever a goal of yours?
The wins are special because it’s meaningful to be recognized by the Academy and by peers you’ve listened to and looked up to your whole life. The Grammys are our industry’s NBA championship. I do this to compete — I’m not here just to vibe. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience this kind of win before, but the job is never finished. Tomorrow, someone’s in their bedroom cooking up the next record that could knock all of us out. So you celebrate briefly, then you get back to work.
How did you celebrate your win?
I popped out to Kehlani’s afterparty for a quick second, then went home and ended the night on my couch with a bowl of pozole. I was feeling a little under the weather, so I just needed to relax. I watched “Wonder Man” — great show. Y’all should check it out. I’m a nerd. I love Marvel.
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You’ve been a key part of Kehlani’s new musical era. Without giving too much away, what can fans expect from her upcoming project?
It’s an incredible body of work. We’ve put our blood, sweat, and tears into it. At its core, it’s R&B through and through — the kind of R&B that makes you feel something and reminds you why you fell in love in the first place. Our goal was to make people feel again, to make them want to love again. I really hope the fans connect with it the way we did while making it.
Who are some artists you’d love to work with in 2026?
Outside of my usual circle, I’m a big fan of Olivia Dean — I’d love to write with her. Coco Jones, Normani, and Sailorr are all incredibly dope as well. I’m a big fan of all of them.
When you’re not in the studio, what does a chill day in LA look like for you?
There really aren’t chill days. I love real estate, so I’m usually working on a development project — building a home or driving around the city looking for something to tear down and rebuild.
For anyone hoping to follow in your footsteps, what’s one piece of advice you’d give them?
Vision is important, but vision without discipline doesn’t move anything. What changes a life is what you do every day. You wake up with intention, you commit to the work in front of you, and you do it whether anyone’s watching or not. You set a goal for the day — even a small one — and you honor it. Brick by brick, day by day, that’s how anything meaningful gets built. One day you look up and realize you didn’t just dream of the castle… you built it.
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TEAM CREDITS:
Editor-in-Chief: Prince Chenoa
Feature Editor & Writer: Taylor Winter Wilson (@taylorwinter)
Photographer: Eric Michael (@evision_photoz)
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