Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: I didn’t come from a musical family, but music has always been a part of me. My mom used to joke that I would try to make up songs before I learned to talk. Growing up I was big into musical theatre. I joined every school play, choir, and music class. After I graduated high school I went to Ryerson University for a year to study English, but I spent most of my days procrastinating doing my homework and writing songs instead. I knew then that if I wanted to pursue a music career, I had to go for it. I ended up dropping out of University to start my career in country music.
Q: Can you describe the musical style of Nicole Rayy in three words?
A: Sassy, Empowering, Honest.
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: I am very active on social media and love staying connected to my fans on my social platforms. I try my best to answer every comment and message that my fans leave for me because it means so much to me that they are taking time out of their day to interact with my content. Fans are everything! I think I would still create music even if it was just for me, but having support from fans is huge. My goal with my music has always been to connect to others. I hope they can take something away from my songs that they need in their lives. So, having fans that feel that way about my music means so much to me. They keep me going even when things get hard on this musical journey sometimes.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Guilty’. Is there a story behind it?
A: I was watching the show “Good Trouble” before I went into a writing session with Douglas Romanow and Chrystal Oudijk. For those who haven’t seen it, there is a lot of legal jargon throughout the show. So, I had imagery of court and justice on my mind that day. I was hoping to write a love song on this particular day because I struggle with them the most and I wanted to include a love song on my upcoming project. I got into the session and I wasn’t quite sure how to pair the imagery of court with a love song until Chrystal made a joke about “a love being so good it feels illegal”. And Guilty was born.
Q: What is your favorite verse from the song and why?
A: Verse 2 is my favourite! The lyrics get a little spicy in verse two, which I love! I love the imagery we paired in that verse and the double meaning of every word. That verse does a great job of combining the thoughts of being in court and being in love.
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the song, “Guilty”?
A: I love working with Douglas Romanow in a write, because he is a producer, so I always get an immediate demo of the song right out of the write. I took the demo home for “Guilty” and listened to it a million times because I knew this song was one I wanted to record. I worked on my vocals and even added it to my live show because I wanted to get more comfortable with singing it before I recorded my vocals. Doug got some of the best musicians to play on the track, Nick Buda (drums), Sam Hunter (guitar and bass), himself on the organ, and Kathryn Rose to sing some killer harmonies. I then went into his studio in Toronto to add my vocals to the track. And after sitting with the track for a little while I went back to the studio to record some more vocals because I felt I could do an even better job on this track. I am really glad I did because I am thrilled with how the final track sounds.
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for Nicole Rayy so far?
A: I have had a lot of amazing moments on stage and shows I have been a part of but one of the coolest things I’ve ever done is perform at The World Music Festival in Shanghai, China. I was fortunate to get the opportunity to do it several years in a row (2015-2018) and each time was a truly amazing experience. The feeling of being on the other side of the world and seeing people sing along to my music, there is no feeling like it!
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: The one that stands out for me is “All Woman”, and not because it necessarily “did the best” but because it sparked so many positive things in my music journey. From the track “All Woman” came my “All Woman Music” songwriters round and from that came my all female festival “HarmoniaFest”. That song marked the start of an incredible path of female empowerment and creating a beautiful community of women in country music who support one another.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into Nicole Rayy’s unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: For me, it starts with a title idea or a concept for a song and then the melody. I find it really difficult to write a melody to already written lyrics, so for me, I like to get the melody of the song initially or at least the vibe so I can write the lyrics that feel right to that melody. Once that melody is there, I can find the right words to say what I want to say. A lot of times I think being an artist is being a vessel for music. Almost like the songs exist out there somewhere in the universe already and I am the vessel that gets to find that particular song. The ones that are meant for me find me and I get to be the one to share them with the world.
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have for Nicole Rayy, and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A: I have lots of goals and aspirations that are continuously changing throughout my career. Some dreams are smaller, like certain playlists I hope my music will be added to, some are bigger, like winning a Grammy one day. But I think for the most part my biggest dream has always remained the same, and that is that I hope to impact people’s lives with my music. I am so grateful for the fans I have who continue to support me on this journey while I discover more about myself as an artist. Thank you for letting me know how much you love my music and how much it means to you! Thank you for being here, and I can’t wait to see what is to come for all of us on this journey together!
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