He is a composer and producer whose music is characterized by being electric, dynamic and rough, creating sound worlds from a single idea, which is deployed with an organic temporality, paradoxically patient and explosive at the same time. His music has been played in various national and international festivals, such as Festival Internacional Cervantino (Mexico), Foro Internacional de Música Nueva Manuel Enríquez (Mexico), June in Buffalo (USA), Festival Atemporánea (Argentina), Festival Aires Nacionales (Mexico), Foro de Música Nueva Armando Luna y XI ECI (Argentina) Festival Ramificaciones (Mexico). His music has been performed by important artists around the world, such as Arditti Quartet, Juanmanuel Flores, Wilfrido Terrazas, Cristian Coliver, Rodrigo Mata, Carlos Salmeron, Emily Duncan, Duo Yonx, Trio Siqueiros, Cuarteto Chroma, Cuarteto Ruvalcaba, Mushamukas Ensamble de Contrabajos, Slee Sinfonietta, the Orquesta Sinfónica UACH and the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Puebla. 

He has received various grants and scholarships such as the Programa Estímulos a la Innovación IMACP 2020, PECDA Puebla 2019 & 2021, and Fomento de las Músicas Iberoamericanas 2020-2021 (IBERMÚSICAS). He has also released two monographic EP albums called Sincronías (2021), House of Flies (2022), and one collective album called Ecos de Viaje – Stefano Scodanibbio recording by Mushamukas Ensamble de Contrabajos, all of them under the label Tagma Records. Moreover, he has received the honor to compose a orchestral piece in commemoration of Batalla de Puebla – 5 de mayo. This piece will be premiered the next year by Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Puebla (OSEP) in Puebla, Mexico.

Retif began his studies at the Centro de Investigación y Estudios Musicales (CIEM) where he took composition classes with Dr. Ana Paola Santillán. He subsequently graduated from LLCM – BA in Music Composition from the West London College of Music, where he studied under the tutelage of Vincent Carver. He is currently studying his master’s degree in Music Theory & Composition at The University of New Mexico (UNM) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA with Dr. José Luis Hurtado.