Tention Free : Tell us a little bit about yourself. Your background, education etc. ??
I kinda grew up moving all over in several different schools throughout life. I pursued a degree in Theatre/Music, but quit before I could finish to really focus on advancing my singing career. I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. I love to entertain and perform, I am mostly self taught using books and videos. I was coached some in college and after by a private instructor briefly for a few months. The one thing I’ve found throughout my life is practice no matter where it comes from makes perfect eventually. Not saying I’m perfect now, but from where I started I’m getting closer and closer. I’m always continuing to try my best to better myself and my music daily.
Tention Free : We been hearing a lot about you, so we notice your starting to gain a lot of attention how does it feel?
I have some pretty bad social anxiety and have dealt with a lot of depression throughout my life. I find myself constantly working on that and my mental health, so often I find it can get a little overwhelming to be completely honest. I have always said that I’ve wanted to make a living singing, but so many others want me to be “famous”. That’s never been a goal of mine. I love to sing and perform, and so I’m just a normal guy doing what I love, hoping one day to be getting paid to do that, but not trying to be a household name really. I guess we’ll see what the future holds.
Tention Free : Please tell us more about your recently released NEW single “Baby I See” Prod. by PU Muuzik?
I don’t even know where to begin, so I’ll start at the beginning. At the start of 2017 I was reached out to do a collaboration on another track titled “Behind Closed Doors” produced by PU Muuzik. He loved what I did so much, that he asked me to check out some more of his tracks. That is when I stumbled onto this incredibly amazing beat. At the same time however, I was also having some chronic throat issues and had no little to no singing voice. Come to find out it was due to tonsillitis and I had to have them removed. As an adult, a tonsillectomy is severely painful, it took me about a month to recover and start to get my singing voice back. That is when I started working on this track. I can honestly say vocally it is the most challenging, versatile, and diverse track I’ve probably ever sang. I wanted to comeback even better than I was before my surgery. I say that mission was definitely accomplished. The vocal dexterity I have now and the ease that comes with it is just different in so many ways. I’m truly proud of the work and feel like it is something that no one has ever heard from me before. I finally decided to stop holding back and I hope you will like it too. I cannot thank PU Muuzik enough for the hard work, dedication, and patience they have had with me throughout this past year. I am a perfectionist, and there’s always gonna be one or two things I could have done better, no matter what the end result is. I love this track so much and I am so thankful he reached out to work with me!
Tention Free : What motivates you to do your best work as a singer/songwriter ?
Honestly, I think it’s just if I feel inspired to write or sing. I have to really feel the music and the message. I really just want to do the best I can and be the best I can, and I’m always striving to get better and better. I want people to listen to my songs, and think, wow this guy can sing, but also he really feels what he’s singing about. I do this for me, but also for others who need to be inspired to follow their dreams. I have put a lot of pressure on myself through the perceived expectations of others and I’m realizing that it’s time to let a lot of that go and just enjoy life, and see where it takes me.
Tention Free : Who are your musical inspirations?
Truthfully I have always hated this question, it’s a funny question to me, because when I’ve answered this in the past it’s always been very vague. But the reality is, I started out singing most of what was popular on the radio in the 80’s and 90’s. I listened to what my parents listen to and then discovered a deeper love for unique R&B/Pop artists in 90’s and 2000’s like Michael Jackson, Prince, George Michael, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, TLC, Savage Garden, Christina Aguilera, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, the list is truly endless all the way up to now 2018. I don’t have any one artist that I feel I sound like, but rather a mix of many into a unique voice all my own. I’m constantly discovering new inspirations.
Tention Free : Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to be a professional singer ?
Don’t care what anyone thinks. I struggle with this and it really has held me back so much. Accept that you are going to be rejected by many people, and be ok with that and yourself. Don’t ever give up on your dreams, and continue working hard and it’ll pay off to some degree if not more in the end. You truly just have to love whatever it is that you’re passionate about, and go for it.
Tention Free : What are your future plans ? Your vision for the coming years.
I’m actually going back to school in the fall of 2018, to finally complete my degree in Theatre/Vocal Performance. I will only be working on projects that truly inspire me, and that I love. I won’t be pressuring myself based on anyones perceived expectations. I want to focus on being the best person I can be so that in the future I can look back on my life, and be proud of that person. I’m not quitting or giving up on music entirely, I’m just going to be more selective with what I do in the future. I’m also in the process of licensing my debut album from 2016 “Dare To Dream”, so who knows, maybe you’ll hear one of my songs in the background of a tv show or movie?
Tention Free : If you could perform anywhere, in the world, where would it have to be?
I’ve always wanted to go to Paris. Something about that place speaks to me. Maybe it’s the love and romance aspect who knows? I also would love to tour the world as a whole, discovering places I’ve only dreamed about going, Like Japan, China, South Africa, Egypt, Australia, another neverending list I suppose.
Tention Free : Everybody needs time out. What do you do in your free time?
I started working out a lot more to get in better shape, and just clear my head. I was the kid in gym class who took 28 minutes to walk the mile, so the irony that I now force myself to run a
5x a week is funny to me. I love spending time with friends and family, going to movies, dinners. I love going out and just singing my heart out at karaoke. I love to cook and bake. There’s so much more to me than even I ever realized lately.
Tention Free : Are you active on social media? what ’s the best way to follow you ?
I will definitely say I am moderately active, more so lately with the release of my next single. You can usually find me on social media at these links.
http://raynemichael.com – DOWNLOAD MY DEBUT ALBUM ‘DARE TO DREAM” it’s FREE!
http://raynemichael.bandcamp.com
http://facebook.com/raynemichaelmusic
http://instagram/therealraynemichael
http://twitter.com/raynemichael
You should also take the time to checkout PU Muuzik’s work if you get a chance and follow his social media as well.
