RĀI (pronounced Ray) is a singer, songwriter and true lover of R&B music. Originally from South Carolina (now residing in Harlem, New York), RĀI’s music is a vibe. He infuses elements of both new and traditional R&B to intentionally create chill, unassuming, timeless music. He sees each song as a piece of art that is influenced more by his life and experiences and not just by what’s hot and trending. R&B has seen changes in style, trends and youth increasingly celebrated over substance, tradition, and maturity but RĀI has an appreciation for all things R&B and believes the two can peacefully exist.
“I’m a singer who grew up loving how R&B music changed the world and made people feel. I’m not changing my music to fit a radio format or gain Instagram followers or whatever. My music is the truest expression of who I am today. I’m trying to create music that people will want to hear next year or the year after that and after that. If it doesn’t pop right now, it doesn’t pop. I am committed to making good music and I’ve found a peace that right now that may not be the most lucrative endeavor and I’m good with that.”
RĀI’s musical inspirations are Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross and Maxwell. With his latest project “Love’s on the Way”, he sought to create an album that was effortless in nature with such a strong vibe that once you pressed play you would just let it ride. And ultimately, that never goes out of style.
“I approached creating my latest project similar to how I imagine a designer approaches creating a collection. Painfully detailed. Each piece unique. Each appealing for different reasons, but it all goes together. I am committed to making good music and I’ve found a peace that right now that may not be the most lucrative endeavor, and I’m good with that.”
Indie artist RĀI brings nostalgia to R&B/soul music fans with the release of his second single “Love’s On The Way,” from his debut album of the same title, due out June 8. Anyone with a love and appreciation for R&B music associated with talented singers like Maxwell and others will love this song!”
– ThisisRnB, April 16, 2018“Rumors of R&B’s demise have been greatly exaggerated over the years. Yes, the genre has seen its fair share of changes, with style, trends and youth increasingly celebrated over substance, tradition and maturity. Nonetheless, there are still artists in that latter category putting in work, such as South Carolina native and current Harlem resident RĀI.“
– SoulBounce, April 12, 2018“This is a performer who, as a writer and singer alike, is a definite proponent of the groove in music, but he isn’t beholden to it. “Back to Life”, like its title perhaps implies, works through a number of well-timed changes that gives the song different looks that, nonetheless, sound like they are part of the same overall package.”
– Indie Band Guru, March 14, 2018“He has a seemingly light touch as a singer…but there’s strength in that delicacy discerning listeners will hear on certain turns of phrase. There are a number of abiding qualities in his singing and two of the most distinctive are heard in how he carefully orchestrates his singing to run alongside the arrangement while never overshadowing it and his phrasing from one refrain to another has subtle distinctions that underline how he never sings anything quite the same way twice.”
– Gashouse Radio, March 5, 2018
LINKS:
https://www.therealrai.com
https://www.facebook.com/therealraimusic
https://twitter.com/raimusicworld
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSuyZwMM7G4v4XK0EKHydIg
https://soundcloud.com/therealraimusic
https://www.instagram.com/raimusicworld
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The Cure perform ‘Disintegration’ at the Sydney Opera House on May 30, 2019
The Cure’s fifth and final performance of Disintegration at Sydney Opera House on 30 May 2019.
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Joel Rothwell – Oxygen
While these days, rubbing shoulders with well-known faces at events such as Cannes Film Festival may be commonplace, Bury-born Joel Rothwell’s down-to-earth nature and clean-cut image have stemmed from the family around him nurturing his long-harnessed dream to become a chart-topping success. With a stylishly crafted formula of honest story-telling accompanying his guitar-driven electro-pop sound, the first of 4 inspired songs recorded with Brighton producer Toby Scott – ‘Just Don’t Know’ tells the story of a chance encounter, forbidden attraction and the inherent dilemma faced from within.
Rooted from a childhood spent with his eldest sister Rebecca imitating their musical heroes, the stars have never seemed too far out of reach, which has led to formulating a creative partnership which has seen them writing together for a number of years. More recently, through his father’s film company, Joel was able to enhance his credentials as a multi-talented performer in his latest film project SKINNED, which also featured his songs ‘Satellite’, and the as yet unreleased ‘Animal’.
It was recording and preparing to release his debut album under the Steelworks Studio label, under the support of songwriter and producer Eliot Kennedy (famed for working with the likes of the Spice Girls, Bryan Adams, Lulu and Take That), that led to Joel taking part in his biggest gig to date. The Vulcan Experience aircraft hanger at Robin Hood airport in Doncaster was host to a sell-out charity event that raised over £65,000 for Help for Heroes, in which he shared the stage in following none other than Gary Barlow.
From being wrongfully expelled from Bolton School until the age of 16, it was at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Blackburn where he nurtured his ability and pursued his dream of a career in music. Joel is now based at a studio in the vibrant Spinningfields area of Manchester, while also having spent time writing and recording at Tileyard Music in London alongside chart musicians such as Sigala, Mark Ronson, and Ella Eyre. Through a blend of passion, talent, and determination, Joel firmly believes he has what it takes to stand out in such a competitive industry and match the ambition of his dreams.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/thatjoelrothwell
https://www.instagram.com/thatjoelrothwell
https://twitter.com/joelrothwell
http://joelrothwell.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQN6VLKZZ6M -
The 109’s – The Pound
The 109’s are a Hampshire (UK) based four-piece who celebrate a mutual love of the late ’60s and early ’70s rock – Sabbath, Zeppelin, AC/DC, The Who, MC5, Grand Funk Railroad. This melting pot of influences has created a blistering, dynamic fusion of all that is best in rock, and their music has garnered praise from DJs and gig-goers alike.
On The Pound, the band says: “Everyone in the band is a massive AC/DC fan, and we all wanted to write a tune that would possess a Bon Scott type of swagger without sounding derivative. The Pound is our attempt at that: a chunky riff, some slashing open chords, and a ‘Too bad, girl, but I’m out of here’ type lyric”.
The release of the album brought immediate attention from prestigious UK stations such as Kerrang! Radio and Planet Rock. Tracks from the album have also been in continuous rotation on radio stations across the USA, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
The musicians come from strong improvisational backgrounds and write their songs as a collective, jamming until they find riffs, melody lines and unusual rhythms and cadences that can be boiled down into short, punchy song structures that strut effortlessly through complex, unexpected changes.
“Taking the sleaze and swagger of the ‘70s and combining it with a loose and laid back ‘60s approach, The 109s are both timely and timeless. The four-piece will appeal to anyone who likes their rock with an amphetamine chaser!”
– Louder Than WarThe album has been produced by Jason Wilson, at Stakeout Studios who has produced bands such as ‘Don Broco’ and ‘You Me At Six’. Jason has translated the tremendous power and passion of the band’s live performances into recorded songs that have an equal sense of aggression and grandeur.
Lead guitarist, Matty P, is also an internationally published author and member of the UK Crime Writers Association. He has published four novels in the UK to date – Scarecrow, Stolen Lives, Broken Arrow and Werewolf - under the name of Matthew Pritchard, and was nominated for the CWA’s Gold Dagger Award.
LINKS:
https://soundcloud.com/the-109s
https://www.facebook.com/the109s
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-109s/id1153559243
https://twitter.com/the109s
https://www.instagram.com/the109s
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX-DfgIKTdyQmAoBtLCjFUA
http://www.the109s.com