Interview with Ray Noir

 As long as I'm into alternative lifestyle, it all started with Instagram when I met Leebo Freeman back in 2015. And somehow we started to talk and talk and then I found even Ray which was like 3 years ago. And I was amazed by his music and his persona at all! I only wish, he could performance over here too so I've decided to do a little inteview with this amazing artist and so introduce him to Czech folks as well! 

You can read the translation for the mag that I'm writing for and link is here. 

I'm thankful for Ray being superkind and agreed on the interview. So let's check it out.

Hi Ray, I found your music like 3 years ago. It was „All alone“ with Mariann Rossa. Can you tell u show would you describe working with this amazing artist? I couldn’t ignore the chemistry between you too when it comes to a performance.

Ray:  Me and Mariann Rosa we met when I was a kid, I was a big fan of her and her band back then, Surferosa. Once when I was at the front at one of their gigs I remember she took my hand and kissed it (pre-covid) hehe. After that we started saying hello to each others and when I moved to London after living in Paris for a couple of years we met up and she stayed at mine every time she came to work on her solo album, so that’s kind of how we started talking about doing something together. I think All Alone is the perfect track we could do together. 

 

How would you describe your music?

Ray: I mean, I always say it’s a mix between Rammstein and The Prodigy with a pinch of Boy Harsher in there. Or a fucked up fusion of 90’s rave and dark wave.

 

Where do you get the inspiration? I mean, of course, inspiration is all around us but do you have any artists that inspire you the most?

Ray: I tend to get inspiration to write my songs from experiences. Everything from dealing with mental issues to being queer to loneliness to the feeling of being an outcast as an LGBTQI+ person.  

 

When you were a child, what profession you wanted to do when you grow up?

Ray: I remember I really wanted to win a gold medal in the olympics with Cross country skiing. That never happened. I think I’ve always been fascinated with a larger than life kind of life, as growing up as very poor in Norway, which is kind of ironic as it’s supposed to be one of the wealthiest countries in the world.  

 

Your last single „Spiritual Fuck“ is a bit different from the previous songs. What was your inspiration for creating such a piece?

Ray: This song was actually meant for an album I recorded which I decided to leave in the past. So during the first lockdown I didn’t know what to do and wanted to release a little teaser as it’s been a while since I did release anything. The whole inspiration musically for this was my love for metal music. 

 

When we can expect a new single or album?

Ray:  Very soon I hope! I’ve written a whole album during the last year and can’t wait to share something with you all, it’s banging if I may say so! 

 

You often sing in the England underground clubs. Do you have any dreamy destination that you would love to share your music with?

Ray: Yeah I live playing those small intimate sweaty shows! And having my dear friend and drummer Leebo Freeman with me on stage it’s just fkn magical when we do shows. I can’t wait to start to tour once everything is ready! The world is my oyster tbh, hehe. As cliche as it sounds! Prague is on the top of my list of places I would like to see again. 

It’s more than obvious that you fancy tattoo too. Did you always plan to be covered this much or the idea just popped out randomly and you found yourself in this style?

Ray:  For me tattoos is a way of showing a belonging to somewhere, the alternative community. It’s also a way for me to hide in a way, a bit of a camouflage, to keep people a bit distant. As a Scorpio I’m by nature very reserved. 

Do you have any favorite tattoo artist? Or any that you would recommend?

Ray:  I love the work of my Friends Hellie, Dan Satan, Giacomo White Trash and Davide Triffoni. They all do a lot of black work, traditional which I like. 

And one last question. If you could travel back in time. What historical person would you like to meet the most?

Ray:  Who ever started white male privilege so we wouldn’t have white male privilege! Anyone famous, I would probably like to get to know Pete Burns from Dead or Alive better. 

 

That’s all for now. Thank you for your time and sparing your thoughts and experiences with fans J