Shouldn’t You Already Have Your Shit Together By Now? Well I Don’t, So...

First, this is not my typical blog post but it’s something that I’ve been thinking about the last few months. I guess it’s an opinion piece.
First, this is not my typical blog post but it’s something that I’ve been thinking about the last few months. I guess it’s an opinion piece.
I’m so grateful for you all - my friends, family and fans. It’s almost my birthday and my latest album is 6 months old - and it’s doing amazing things!
I hate asking others for help. It makes me feel weak, it makes me feel vulnerable…. And maybe, just maybe that’s the point.
I remember having to move once and I refused to ask for help. I loaded most of the boxes, the beds, the TV, the refrigerator but it was the washing machine that got me. Maybe I had grown tired from moving all day, maybe it was a sign, whatever it was I ended up hurting my back. It sucked. It took weeks to recover. Why didn’t I just ask someone to help?
I hate asking.
Coming Through In Waves
The Studios And Engineers:
Recorded at Red Sky Studios - Amarillo Texas
Recording Engineer - Ron Rankin
Mixed at Electric Mojoland - Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
Mixing Engineer - Michael Mölders
Mastered at Toolhouse Studios - Rotenburg an der Fulda, Germany
I have been battling depression, anxiety and an addictive personality for my entire life. I can proudly say that at this point I win the battle ninety eight percent of the time, but oh that two percent.
I can't shake this depression
No matter how I try
It has been far too long since I wrote a blog post but I have a good reason. For the past few months I have been writing new songs and reaching out to studios in hopes that another album was in the future. More recently I found an amazing studio and engineer to begin the process. I’m beyond excited to be in the final recording stages of my second solo album.
Coming Through In Waves
The title has changed a few times as the recording process moved forward but this one stuck with me for several reasons.
Over the years the tools that have been used to record, share and even teach music have evolved just like music itself has. Below is an infographic that The University of Florida created as a helpful guide that walks through music history and how technology has changed over the years. Ray was contacted by the creators of the infographic and asked to share it with his audience. Enjoy!
Recently Ray was interviewed by The New York Daily News about his tattoo that he commissioned upon hearing the news of Prince’s death Thursday April 21st. We thought we could sit down and ask him about the tattoo and what impact Prince had on his own unique music style and career.
How did you hear about Prince’s death?
It was the 80’s and it was in a sleepy little West Texas town called Panhandle when I first realized that art (while subjective) can be destroyed by a narrow view of the world.
The project was called “What Sparks Your Imagination” and we were given two weeks to create using provided chalk and illustration board. The only other stipulation was that it must depict in some way the local landscape. In West Texas, for the most part we have flat yellowing grass with beautiful sunsets and sunrises.
In the immortal words of Freddie Mercury "And bad mistakes ‒ I've made a few." I don't have many regrets but I have a few. Most of my regrets are relational - if I'd only loved harder or if I had put more into it, then maybe.... I still think I can step up my game with my friends and family even today.