Interview
with Boo Ray
with Boo Ray
Lamitschka:
Music has many new fans throughout Europe who may be hearing about
you for the first time. How would you describe yourself and the music
you play to someone who has never seen or heard you?
Music has many new fans throughout Europe who may be hearing about
you for the first time. How would you describe yourself and the music
you play to someone who has never seen or heard you?
Boo
Ray: I’d reckon it’s a road house honky tonk type of sound. I’m a
full-time songwriter & troubadour.
Ray: I’d reckon it’s a road house honky tonk type of sound. I’m a
full-time songwriter & troubadour.
Lamitschka:
How was the last year for you? What were your highlights?
How was the last year for you? What were your highlights?
Boo
Ray: highlights? ’13 was great. We recorded & released “Six
Weeks In A Motel”, I got to sing the Opry with my great friend
Marshall Chapman, a couple songs have been placed in films, Twang
Nation premiered The “Boots & Blue Jeans” video …
2014’s been a whirlwind. We’ve done an Americana Radio Campaign &
played on The Alamo Jones Show on SiriusXM Outlaw Country.
Ray: highlights? ’13 was great. We recorded & released “Six
Weeks In A Motel”, I got to sing the Opry with my great friend
Marshall Chapman, a couple songs have been placed in films, Twang
Nation premiered The “Boots & Blue Jeans” video …
2014’s been a whirlwind. We’ve done an Americana Radio Campaign &
played on The Alamo Jones Show on SiriusXM Outlaw Country.
Lamitschka:
What is your latest CD and how’s it doing?
What is your latest CD and how’s it doing?
Boo
Ray: Six Weeks In A Motel is the current release. It did great on the
AMA chart & we’re fixin’ to do a euro americana campaign.
Ray: Six Weeks In A Motel is the current release. It did great on the
AMA chart & we’re fixin’ to do a euro americana campaign.
Lamitschka:
How did you choose the title for the CD? Is there a story behind the
name?
How did you choose the title for the CD? Is there a story behind the
name?
Boo
Ray: You know, “Six Weeks In A Motel” was on the previous
2010 record “Bad News Travels Fast” and I though that song
deserved a second chance on the new album. And yeah, there’s a story
& it’s twisted tale of a down & out time in Los Angeles.
Ray: You know, “Six Weeks In A Motel” was on the previous
2010 record “Bad News Travels Fast” and I though that song
deserved a second chance on the new album. And yeah, there’s a story
& it’s twisted tale of a down & out time in Los Angeles.
Lamitschka:
Do you write the songs yourself? If not, how do you go about finding
the songs for your CD?
Do you write the songs yourself? If not, how do you go about finding
the songs for your CD?
Boo
Ray: Yes, I’m a full time songwriter, but I’m a singer too, so people
pitch me songs, and i’m always on the lookout for a great song. Maybe
like the same way a coon hunter’s always on the lookout for a great
coon dog.
Ray: Yes, I’m a full time songwriter, but I’m a singer too, so people
pitch me songs, and i’m always on the lookout for a great song. Maybe
like the same way a coon hunter’s always on the lookout for a great
coon dog.
Lamitschka:
Please tell us about the songs on your album (influences, etc).
Please tell us about the songs on your album (influences, etc).
Boo
Ray: well, I say this: I didn’t try to hide my southern rock &
’70s country roots any on this album. I’m from North Carolina, up in
the mountains, but I’ve spent a lot of time in Georgia. There’s
definitely a “Gerogia Sound” The Allman Bros in Macon
Georgia, The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Capricorn Records, Otis Redding,
James Brown, there’s some real heavy weight cats down in that red
Georgia clay & that black water swamp. But I ain’t afraid of a
dang hit either. I mean I love some of the big old mainstream hits
like “Rhinestone Cowboy” & “Tulsa Time”. JJ
Cale’s music is a big part of my life & Mark Knopfler too. I’d
love it if that came through any. I know I’m a lot rougher &
hillbilly as hell, but I those cat’s have a great approach & set
the bar real damn high. Lamitschka: What is the difference between
your last CD and your current one? Boo Ray: basically “Bad News
Travels Fast” was fairly acoustic & the new album “Six
Weeks In A Motel” is a full on ’70s electric country record.
Ray: well, I say this: I didn’t try to hide my southern rock &
’70s country roots any on this album. I’m from North Carolina, up in
the mountains, but I’ve spent a lot of time in Georgia. There’s
definitely a “Gerogia Sound” The Allman Bros in Macon
Georgia, The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Capricorn Records, Otis Redding,
James Brown, there’s some real heavy weight cats down in that red
Georgia clay & that black water swamp. But I ain’t afraid of a
dang hit either. I mean I love some of the big old mainstream hits
like “Rhinestone Cowboy” & “Tulsa Time”. JJ
Cale’s music is a big part of my life & Mark Knopfler too. I’d
love it if that came through any. I know I’m a lot rougher &
hillbilly as hell, but I those cat’s have a great approach & set
the bar real damn high. Lamitschka: What is the difference between
your last CD and your current one? Boo Ray: basically “Bad News
Travels Fast” was fairly acoustic & the new album “Six
Weeks In A Motel” is a full on ’70s electric country record.
Lamitschka:
Your current single is being played by radio. What do you feel is
special about this song that makes people want to hear it?
Your current single is being played by radio. What do you feel is
special about this song that makes people want to hear it?
Boo
Ray: I like “Boots & Blue Jeans”. That electric
’70s/’80s thing, like Bob Seger’s Down on Main Street or Hank Jr’s
“Country Boy Can Survive, i think we pulled it off on “Boots”.
It’s ornery and good natured at the same time.
Ray: I like “Boots & Blue Jeans”. That electric
’70s/’80s thing, like Bob Seger’s Down on Main Street or Hank Jr’s
“Country Boy Can Survive, i think we pulled it off on “Boots”.
It’s ornery and good natured at the same time.
Lamitschka:
What will your next single be?
What will your next single be?
Boo
Ray: We deciding now. I thought it might be cool to do a video single
for “Southern Harmony”, good excuse for a party.
Ray: We deciding now. I thought it might be cool to do a video single
for “Southern Harmony”, good excuse for a party.
Lamitschka:
What kind of songs do you like to record the most?
What kind of songs do you like to record the most?
Boo
Ray: I like an ornery rocker but I like a little hillbilly waltz too
Ray: I like an ornery rocker but I like a little hillbilly waltz too
Lamitschka:
You did a duet with Jodi James. How did that happen to come about?
You did a duet with Jodi James. How did that happen to come about?
Boo
Ray: yeah, Jodi’s incredible, my favorite singer anywhere. She’s from
Louisiana. We met in Nashville a few years back and seem to end up
doing a song together every couple of years. That’s Jodi on “These
Days” off the “Bad News” album.
Ray: yeah, Jodi’s incredible, my favorite singer anywhere. She’s from
Louisiana. We met in Nashville a few years back and seem to end up
doing a song together every couple of years. That’s Jodi on “These
Days” off the “Bad News” album.
Lamitschka:
How much creative control do you have over your music?
How much creative control do you have over your music?
Boo
Ray: well I don’t know how much control i actually have, but there’s
not anyone telling me how or what to do, what songs to record, what
cloths to wear etc. I consider music a blessing and my job’s to take
care of whatever music.
Ray: well I don’t know how much control i actually have, but there’s
not anyone telling me how or what to do, what songs to record, what
cloths to wear etc. I consider music a blessing and my job’s to take
care of whatever music.
Lamitschka:
There’s a lot of work that goes into a number one hit. What did it
take to make it in your case?
There’s a lot of work that goes into a number one hit. What did it
take to make it in your case?
Boo
Ray: It’s a long haul game. When I came to that point that I had to
ask myself “am in this for fame & fortune or am i bred a
songwriter & that’s what I gotta do? Turns out i’m a lifer. So,
conviction persistence & a mule stubborn mind maybe?
Ray: It’s a long haul game. When I came to that point that I had to
ask myself “am in this for fame & fortune or am i bred a
songwriter & that’s what I gotta do? Turns out i’m a lifer. So,
conviction persistence & a mule stubborn mind maybe?
Christian Lamitschka for Country Music
News International Magazine
News International Magazine