Raye Zaragoza is an award-winning singer/songwriter and performer whose multinational heritage (Native American (O’odham), Mexican, Taiwanese and Japanese) deeply informs her music. This perspective can be heard in her anthem ‘American Dream’. The powerful and thought-provoking single is inspired by the destruction of Donald Trump’s election, the lack of mainstream media for Standing Rock and the struggles Zaragoza faced growing up as a female multi-cultural youth in the US. Inspired by numerous elements which have impacted Zaragoza’s life, she tells the tale of her great-grandmother and how was forced into a boarding school to be raised by a European woman, separated from her parents and siblings. Zaragoza reveals, “Her story haunts me because so many people don’t realize the awful things that have happened in this country just within the past 100 years. The only way to move forward is to acknowledge that ‘change is a choice that can start with you”.
Her previous release “In the River,” a response to the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in North Dakota. The quiet yet powerful track resonated strongly with listeners and went viral in late 2016, garnering half a million views on the video, national media coverage and a Global Music Award and Honesty Oscar.
Raye’s debut album, Fight For You (independent, 2017), displays her compassion, dedication to justice and equality for all, and a keen eye for the seemingly small daily moments that become our most meaningful memories. About the record, Raye says, “This album is about finding yourself and finding your voice. It’s about maturing and realizing that you can make a difference if you so choose.”
Raye performs her music all over the United States as well as across Europe, where she spent five weeks touring in summer 2017. She’ll be returning to tour Germany in January 2018. Her music has been featured on Democracy Now! and on numerous lists of the best modern-day protest songs, including those by Paste Magazine, What Culture, and Overblown. She has also performed live sessions for Paste and Daytrotter.
We had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Raye. Check out the interview below.
What inspired you to become a singer and songwriter?
I have always loved writing. I have always loved music. When I was a kid, I always had headphones on and carried around a walkman. I remember being on the playground and thinking to myself – “writing a song is the coolest thing anyone could ever do.” It always shocks me that it took until my late teenage years to start writing my own songs.
Your multi-national heritage (Native American – O’odham, Mexican, Taiwanese, and Japanese) shapes your music. How does it inspire you?
My background has completely shaped the way I look at the world – which inevitably has influenced my music. I grew up seeing the world through the eyes of an immigrant woman and an indigenous man (mom & dad), and it has shown me both the great injustices and great vibrancy life can bring. My background inspires me because it makes me feel like a messenger for the stories that came before me on both sides of my family.
You cite U.S. events, such as the election, Standing Rock, and growing up multicultural as the biggest influence on your music. Tell us more.
As artists, I believe it is our job to observe and comment on the world around us. There has been so much injustice happening around our country in the couple years, and to me, staying silent as an artist is just not an option. I have always felt that growing up multicultural has made me very observant because I see things from many different angles – and that has inevitably influenced my songwriting.
[su_quote]
Your music reflects the issues, such as The Dakota Access Pipeline near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in North Dakota. You use your music to raise awareness for causes. Your music has gone viral because of this. Do you feel your music raises awareness?
Yes – after releasing “In The River,” I received so many messages from people saying that they had no idea what was happening until they saw my video. I think artists had a major impact on the Standing Rock movement ‘going viral’ and I am grateful that I could do my part to spread the information through my song.
Tell us how following your dreams and intuition has paid off.
Many people have that itch within them to be an artist – but they spend a couple years trying the “safe route” to see if maybe it would work for them, and then inevitably take the leap a few years later to try pursuing their dreams. Personally, I never even tried the “safe route!” I have no idea what that feels like. I got very used to facing the unknown at a young age, and I am grateful that I followed my gut without looking back. I always thought I would go to college. I got straight A’s in middle school and high school (well, I got one B!), and all of the adults in my life were very critical when I decided to not even apply to college. I knew I wanted to be an artist, but I didn’t really know in what way. I moved out of my parent’s home two months after graduating high school and rented a room on Craigslist in North Hollywood. I worked as a hostess making $10 an hour and wrote songs at night when I couldn’t sleep. I had no idea what I was doing, but I never stopped listening to myself. Eventually, I started playing my songs for my friends and they got me to play gigs at the farmer’s market at the Republic of Pie. By the end of that first year out of high school, I was playing gigs and writing songs voraciously and have been doing that ever since. I am really grateful that I catapulted myself into the world so young because it forced me to face my fears and find my bliss pretty quickly.
Your uniqueness and talent are evident. Tell us about the process of composing a song.
Usually, I write songs when I am feeling really emotional and it feels like writing a song is the only way to cope with what I am feeling. When I wrote “In The River,” I was crying the whole time. Same with most of my love songs. I am definitely not the kind of songwriter who can plan to write a song at 11 am, and just sit down and write something good. I am always writing through – writing poems, stories, melodies and putting them on my phone all day. But when it comes to a song start to finish – it’s usually a very emotionally heightened moment. Sometimes I write words first in the form of a poem and then put it to music – but usually, I write the lyrics and melody simultaneously.
What has been the best part of working in the music industry?
The best part of working in the music industry is connecting with new people – both other artists, and music lovers around the world. I love traveling and meeting new people through music. It really is a universal language that brings great people together.
Career-wise, where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I would like to be releasing my third album, playing a headlining tour at amphitheaters around the world, and continuing to use my music to voice social, political, and environmental issues.
Do you have any upcoming projects that you would like to share?
Madison Malone & I are recording a studio version of our song, “Red Moon, High Tide.” The original acoustic recording & video received 300K views on Facebook and was very well received. The song is an outcry for mother earth in regards to the recent California fires and last year’s hurricanes.
What advice would you give to someone, who is aspiring to enter the music industry?
I would tell them to be persistent and to never let anyone discourage them. Also be careful what you sign.
Complete this sentence, if I had an opportunity to do anything I want, I would do ___________.
I would do exactly what I am doing now! I am so grateful for the journey I am on, and I know that if I continue to work hard and stay true to my message – everything will happen the way it is supposed to.
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iww5eeEjxiI”]
Check out our review of “America Dream.”
Connect with Raye:
Website: http://www.rayezmusic.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rayemusic/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rayezmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayezmusic/
About Author
