bray

Bray

Interview 8 January 2005

Click on small image for CD purchase and soundbites -

Hi mike,

Sorry it took so long. I've been working quite a bit. I'm attaching a few current pics and one from the old group soothin touch after we lost a few members.

I began singing in the 10th grade, but i didn't join the school choir until the 11th grade, so that would have made me about 15 going on 16. Up until that point i had never held a note.

My biggest old school influences include sam cooke, ray charles, stevie wonder, luther vandross and marvin gaye. My favorite i would have to say would be ray charles though, i love the realness and rawness of his voice and material.

Yes, the album covers old school as well as some of today's new school of neo-soul and hip hop. I tried not to leave anyone out, but i also wanted to show some of my versatility. If u don't mind took about three weeks to write and record. The concept came from out of no where, from song one to seventeen it was my fastest and most unique project thus far. I've always felt like a balladeer, but i wanted to expand to mix of dance songs with neo-soul and of course the r & b.

The album is mostly me, i did borrow some lyrics from my wife, ann. She mainly writes poetry and has had several of her poems published. When my producer don mac does tracks for me i bring them home and i listen to them to pick out the ones i like. And most of the time she hears the chorus and the hook in a song and writes it down for me and i will write the verses and record it. We both seem to have a knack for words and we always connect when it comes to my music. She won't admit it but, she's quite a gifted song writer.

Being and independent artist for me is both blessing and a curse. The blessing is that you have the freedom to do what you want to do without have to answer to anyone but yourself. The curse side is getting the attention of a major record label. Over the past 13 years i come to realize getting into the industry has a lot to do with who you know and getting them to open the door for you, but i know with time things will fall into place.

My sax is waiting, i haven't played in years. I'm practicing again, and i will be blowing in future projects. So watch out!!

I'm getting some great reactions from the fans. I feel that i have the fans that every artist dreams of, from the uk to japan, the netherlands and the united states and many places in between. I'm very satisfied with the album for the most part. I had many choices for songs, but i felt very comfortable with it's final outcome. I really love it!!

As far as promotions, local radio and live performances is the key for me, and of course wonderful media exposure from music lovers like you at life and soul. Cdbaby has been super, they are my primary source for retail sales. I'm just excited about everything.

Now that the project is complete, i'm taking more bookings. I sing every chance i get. All of my shows and performances are smooth. I pride myself on giving a great show. I want people to say that he sounds just like his cd, and i hear that all the time.

Music house productions inc. Is mine and my wife ann's very small production company. We hope to be as big as some of the other major labels in the years to come. Mhp, inc. Is our little baby and it's truly a dream come true.

The soothin touch experience was a learning one. We had a great single, but a lack of promotions lead to poor record sales. And along with bad management we all went our separate ways. But i felt it was and is much easier on my own, no ego's to deal with. Just me, don mac, and the studio with no distractions.

There were seven of us in soothin touch at one time, and before we broke up it was only three. Seduction formed from the remaining members in soothin touch. Seduction performed up and down the east coast, we had lots of material but a completed project was never released. We had a great sound and look. Unfortunately, bad management and ego's ended the group in a very short time. That's when i left determined and focused and here i, am with my own little company and several projects out.

Music to me will always be full-time. I'm in retail management with walgreens that fills up my days, but i still record 2 songs a day when i get home. It's hard to work when you have a studio in your house, it's like having an arcade in your back yard, you always want to go outside and play. But i try to juggle them as best i can. As far as me personally i'm happily married to a wonderful woman who supports me in all that i do. But on the real, i'm just a man who loves music and i want to bring back the old school sounds i grew up with.

Don mac, is my partner in this music game. After all the drama i went through he was like a breath of fresh air. He is a rapper from the old school, but he does some great r&b tracks. Some people think it's a little strange, but it all comes down to the love of music. We met six months ago through another artist that we were both working with. He moved away we clicked and it was on from that point. I love his tracks and he loves my voice. Don mac has his studio and i have mine, but yet we work very well together. We're currently working on some projects together and they will be out in the very near future.

The immediate plan is to focus on this project. I will be doing a lot local performances over the next few months to get the word out and increase record sales. the master plan is to get signed, and get some worldwide attention. Hopefully, a big tour and look at the possibility of getting into some modeling and acting. I have very big dreams and i won't stop until i make it happen.

I just wanted to say thank you to you mike, and every one at life and soul promotions for having me.

Much love to you all, bray

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