Working with Rihanna, Sir Elton John, DJ Mustard, and more are some lofty standards by anyone’s measure. That’s exactly what self-proclaimed “pluralist” expresser Augustine Raymond, better known as Augie Ray, has actually been accustomed to in his ever-expansive career as a multidisciplinary creative. In his own words, he is “a pluralist”, combining aspects of music and visual arts to communicate his message in a more immersive fashion. Catching up with the extraordinarily talented act, his mind is a jungle of plethoric ideas and, his album primed for 7/29 (literally a week’s time) will reflect the genius we were privy to interact with.
“I did a record with Sir Elton John and DJ Mustard. It was meaningful because we had two sides of the music spectrum working together in one room. It was like putting pineapples on pizza. It was different but ultimately it worked. Sir Elton John gave me and Mustard a lot of wise advice in the session.”
Paired with his first solo exhibition art show at the LA Art Box at 6pm along Melrose, the modern day musician and visual arts maestro is ready to share his distinct sounds with the world. A student of the game, Ray began making music as early as 9, playing the trumpet, after he was exposed to music like calypso/soca, Marvin Gaye and Lenny Kravitz by his Trinidadian mother at a meek age. By 13, he was already behind the boards crafting beats like Madlib and Dilla, when he decisively chose to embark on a music career after winning an Ars-X 10 drum machine (similar to Kanye’s) in a school music competition organized by iconic record label, EMI.
“Ultimately what inspired me to dedicate myself to music was the power and feeling it continues to give me,” Ray says. “It is the way I express myself. The way I communicate . As a kid it was hard to often get my point across. Music was a medium I used not only to say what I felt but allow people to feel what I feel.”
And much like Ye’, Ray is a visionary and designer of sound & visuals in the same breadth. Inspired by the works of predecessors Ye’, The RZA, Madlib, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and more, the fabric in which Augie Ray is cut from is one of sheer artistic flair.
Beyond music, he is astute at visual arts. The symbiotic relationship between what he sees and what he produces musically mutually intertwine effortlessly, and the opportune moment to lay witness to this is at his forthcoming event assorted for Friday, the 29th.
“I plan to integrate my love for music with visual art. Using augmented reality and other advancements to further push the boundaries of how we feel, see and hear sound” Augie Ray disclosed.
As roads lead to the ceremonious album reveal, Augie Ray has been busy making soundtracks for huge brands such as Old Navy, with the Commercial “Good Morning” by artist Max Frost a testament to this. For now however, click the link below to purchase tickets to his private album launch and art show that will enthuse its prestigious attendees.
“This is by far my best piece of work,” he continues
Link to event: https://tinyurl.com/2z2np4z6
