Hi, I’m Kristian Riley – a musician, producer, and mixer based in Los Angeles.
I got my start making records as a member of the hybrid hip-hop/punk band Citizen King, where we scored a Top 10 hit with “Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out).” That project led to working with legendary producer Eric Valentine, and the experience had a lasting impact on me. Watching how songs and sonics intersect at the highest level sparked my curiosity and set me on the path toward producing.
Over the years, I’ve owned and operated several recording studios and have been fortunate to work with an incredible range of artists. Early on, I worked with The Promise Ring on their Wood/Water LP and recorded Davey von Bohlen’s vocal on “A Praise Chorus.” That was the first vocal I ever recorded. Seeing Jimmy Eat World go on to become the band they are today was inspiring and formative for me.
Around that same time, I produced Paris Texas’s Like You Like an Arsonist, recorded at Butch Vig’s legendary Smart Studios in Madison and mixed by Joe McGrath at The Sound Factory in Los Angeles. I also engineered Silversun Pickups’ Swoon alongside my former bandmate Dave Cooley.
In 2019, I founded Yardlights to release an EP by Bandie. After the debut EP, we started work on a full-length LP. During that process, I built a new recording and mixing studio in 2022, designed by studio construction consultant Drew Allsbrook. The room is fully soundproofed and tuned for monitoring accuracy — easily the best playback environment I’ve ever worked in. That space played a huge role in helping Bandie define and refine their sound.
Today, I split my time between playing guitar with Bandie, running Yardlights, and working with artists as a producer and mixer. Bandie’s LP is complete and set for release this year, and Yardlights has recently welcomed a second artist, Rod Alonzo, whose debut single, mixed and mastered by me, is coming out in Spring 2026.
I like to help artists turn strong ideas into finished records that sound intentional, emotional, and competitive — without losing what makes them unique.
Whether I’m producing from the ground up, shaping arrangements, or stepping in at the mixing stage, I focus on clarity, impact, and emotion. I’m especially detail-oriented with drums, guitars, and vocal balance, making sure every element hits with purpose and translates across systems.
If you’re working on a project and want help bringing it across the finish line, I’d love to hear about it. Reach out and tell me what you’re making.
Reach Out to Me About Your Project
Last year I started a Youtube channel for Yardlights to promote our releases and to share what I know through educational content. Teaching is something I’ve been doing for years so it’s a natural next step. My first piece of long form content is “A Whole Production: Figured Out by Bandie” a full production and mix breakdown of the Bandie song “Figured Out.” I’m building a community around people who are curious about music production. More to come on that with future Yardlights’ releases.