Exclusive Interview With RAY JOHNSON

For a long time, Ray Johnson worked in the music industry. Throughout his career, he has performed live both as a solo act and in a variety of bands.

Song “Carried By The Wind” by Ray Johnson. Acoustic guitar, male vocals, and bass are used in the recording. He anticipates that we will find the vocal arrangement and close cohesion between the guitar and bass to be very melodic aspects of the song. Check out the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

RAY JOHNSON: I was born in Chicago Illinois in 1961. I’ve lived in the suburbs the majority of my life. I’m the middle child of 3, married for 38 years with no children. My door to the world of music began in February of 1964 seeing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show. Like so many other artists my age, the impact was profound. I was one of many people that Sunday night who would become musicians, join bands and start writing their own songs. All these years later, that’s what I do.

2. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?

RAY JOHNSON: There is no question the landscape has changed considerably when it comes to recording, promotion and distribution. There is no doubt in my mind that there is no better time to be an independent artist. All the tools you need to record, distribute and promote are at your disposal. Not like years ago when major labels ruled the industry. Today, with the help of so many streaming services, digital distributors and online promotion tools, the need for label representation is no longer the only avenue to success. I have and continue to make headway in this competitive industry by maximizing every opportunity available to me. I record in my own studio, distribute and promote my work, continue to build a following and love what I do. The best part is that I’m in control and can make the important decisions. Being an independent artist is the way to go. With regards to handling any and all negativity and naysayers, I would offer this piece of advice. Believe in yourself, believe in your art, stay positive. Remember, there are more than enough people on a list of those who think you can’t be successful or think you aren’t good enough, don’t put your name on that list. If you don’t believe in yourself and what you’re doing, then you’re probably in the wrong business. Try to look beyond the glitter and gold. If you can do that, you will find that the fortune and wealth you seek already resides within you.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘RAY JOHNSON?

RAY JOHNSON: I was named after my father. There was a lot of that going in those days. As I mentioned before, none other than The Beatles. I fell in love with music from the 60’s. Not only the artists and songwriters of “The British Invasion” but the artists and songwriters from America. It was so real and true and creative. The variety of bands, solo artists and songwriters who made a name for themselves was so impressive. It still is today. When the 70’s rolled around, I was in my teens and I brought the pop sensibilities of the 60’s into my world of music and developed a great appreciation for the singer/songwriters of the time. James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Harry Chapin, Dan Fogelberg, Carol King, Carly Simon and so many more. As I’ve grown as a songwriter, I’ve found that in my work, I have blended over 20 years of influential artists together and created my own path to where I am today and my own style.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

RAY JOHNSON: As a songwriter, the key elements in my music revolve around #1, The story of the song, #2 The melody of the lyric and music combined and #3 The use of techniques and tools available to me when writing and creating a song. In order to capture and maintain a listener’s interest, a song must be solid in all three areas. The story must be relatable to the listener. If the listener can’t relate to what you are saying, you’re probably not going to keep them interested. A listener needs to be involved in the song. As long as the listener can personally relate to the story or can feel and understand the emotions of the story, you will capture their attention. Musically, the song must have prosody. The musical vibe of the song needs to match the content of the story/lyric. In general, if the story is happy, the music should reflect that in tempo and structure. If the song is sad, the music should reflect that mood. If the music doesn’t match the story, the listener won’t be able to connect the two together. If a songwriter has command of the writing tools and techniques available when developing a song, the writer will give the listener a song that delivers on all fronts.

5. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?

RAY JOHNSON: Absolutely! Yes and yes. The reason for writing a song is to send a clear and concise message to the listener, regardless of the subject matter. Even a simple song with simple lyrics has a message and can be delivered effectively. A song needs to have a point. If it doesn’t have a point, it won’t have much effect. I have found that if lyrics are too vague or are full of innuendos, you will leave the listener confused and asking “What is he talking about?” You may know what you’re talking about but you might be the only one. The message in a song must be relatable to the listener if it’s going to have any effect. If a listener can relate to what you’re talking/singing about, they will then be able to absorb the message and be free to interpret your song in their own personal way. Don’t leave the listener trying to figure out what you’re saying. Say what you mean and mean what you say and the listener will do the rest of the heavy lifting for you.

6. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

RAY JOHNSON: Being a songwriter is rewarding in itself. Having the ability to create music that touches people’s lives is the payback that all songwriters crave. When a listener and writer connect through music, both parties share a bond that can’t be broken. Why would I want or expect anything more now or in the future? The future is now. The moment a writer and listener connect through song, both people find a place and a time to share their feelings and emotions. That exchange is priceless, invaluable and as real as the day is long. That my friend is fulfillment.

7. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?

RAY JOHNSON:

Interesting question. I believe both are true statements about the role my songwriting plays in the world we live in. The subject matter of my writing has never been compartmentalized. Life itself isn’t boxed in so why should stories or feelings be suppressed or silenced? Remember the music in the 60’s carried many many political, social, and spiritual messages carrying the views and emotions of people all over the world. The world was changing then, it’s changin now, it’s changing all the time. Presently, we are experiencing political, social and spiritual unrest globally. I am not afraid to speak my mind through song. I don’t seek to write about the perils of the world we live in but if I feel there is a message in me that others can relate to then I will not retreat and deny its existence. A songwriter listens, learns and tries to capture the moments of reality at a particular time. Whether a song is about love, heartbreak, personal loss, political, social or spiritual unrest, there is a story to be told. It’s the songwriter’s responsibility to deliver the message with technical artistry, through personal narrative with the end goal of entertaining the listener.

8. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

RAY JOHNSON:

I’ve been a student of music formally and through my own teachings. Vocally, I began singing in grade school in choirs and ensembles and continued singing through high school and college and obviously have continued as a singer songwriter. Musically, I began taking guitar lessons in 7th grade. I took lessons for approximately 3 years and by the time I was in my second year of high school, I began teaching myself songs from my favorite artist using the skills I acquired through formal training. It really was at this juncture, that I began getting involved with bands and performing as a solo artist. As a songwriter, I dabbled with the craft throughout high school but it was when I went to college that I began to see my interest in songwriting begin to take hold.

9. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as Acoustic Pop, Americana, Folk Rock, Easy Listening, Indie Folk, Soft Ballad

RAY JOHNSON: The process of moving from the learning phase and emulating other artists’ work wasn’t difficult. It was a natural progression. Having immersed myself in learning how to play guitar, sing and write from legends that came before me, a door opened for me to walk through. Once I was in that room it became a canvas to create my art. I would take what I had learned and make it my own. That is how I developed my own style. It was a learning process then and still is today. My desire to write great songs has been with me since that time and has never left me.

10. Could you describe your creative processes? How do you usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

RAY JOHNSON: Well, all of my writing is acoustic based. What varies at times is whether it is the music first or lyric first. With “Carried By The Wind”, the lyrics started the writing process and then finding the right guitar accompaniment to match the lyric followed. Once the guitar and vocals were recorded, the addition of bass and keys were added to the mix to round out the sound. The creative process is a work in progress. The beauty and magic of a song develops right before your eyes in real time. Tools and ideas that you use to create a song are used along with preconceived notions of what you want to do. Then suddenly the creative magic and heartbeat of the song comes to life bringing thoughts and ideas to you that you never even thought of. You become the vehicle by which your art flows through. It’s at this point in the writing process that you feel the power of your creative abilities. It’s simply amazing and so gratifying and rewarding. All recording and post production is provided in house with the use of Pro Tools. All distribution and promotion is provided in house by Soon To Be Famous Publishing LLC. With regards to collaboration, my creative process rarely requires that ingredient to help me write songs. 95% of my catalog has been written by me. That being said, I support the process of collaboration completely and I can say that I have been part of successful collaborative sessions in my career. Collaboration is extremely effective when writing music.