Nicole Rayy
Canadian country artist Nicole Rayy releases new single “All Woman”.
Co- written with Brian Howes, Jason Van Poederooyen, Nolan Sipe and produced by Brian Howes and JVP, the new single is an empowered feminist anthem encouraging women to embrace every aspect of themselves.
“I really just wanted to release a song about how I felt about being a woman, but I wanted to release it as a single now because I think it's a very fitting song for this time of female strength and empowerment,” expresses Rayy.
With an ever growing audience in Canada and abroad, the country artist had the experience of performing at the World Music Festival in Shanghai, China, for four years in a row (2015-2018) and recently was honored with a nomination by CMA Ontario for Rising Star of the Year.
Rayy is also the founder of All Women Music, a platform for women in the music industry and she is the co-host of Girl Talk Sessions, a place for performances and talks with established female singers and songwriters.
“All Woman” is now available on major streaming platforms.
Photo credit: Ian McCausland
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
Hey, I’m Nicole Rayy! I’m a country/pop singer/songwriter from Alliston Ontario. I’ve been singing since before I could talk and I can’t remember ever wanting to be anything else but a singer. Music has always made me feel less alone and I want to make others feel the same with my music. Other than music, my other passions include fitness, food and quoting every line from the TV show Friends.
How would you define Nicole Rayy, the artist?
I think the main word I would use to explain Nicole Rayy the artist is honesty. It has always been my goal to be as honest as possible with my lyrics in order to relate to others through music. Growing up listening to music, I would hear artists’ stories and think wow I am not the only one that feels this way. I always wanted my music to make people feel that same way. I always want to be honest and share my real stories with my listeners.
How did things change for you since your very first release?
So much has changed for me since my very first release! My career has taken me on so many wonderful adventures and helped me to grow as a person. I think the thing that has changed the most though since my first release is my motivation and determination. I always knew that I wanted to be a singer growing up but I didn’t really understand what it would take until I released my first song. After that release I was so determined to learn, grow and do whatever it is I needed to do to make it happen. Being a singer wasn’t just a little girl dream anymore it was a serious career goal.
"All Woman" is your new single. What's the story behind this song?
All Woman is the type of song I have been wanting to write for a while now. I write a lot of songs about relationships, and how other people have influenced my emotions but I wanted to write a song about how I feel about myself. All Woman is an anthem about what it means to be a woman to me. It's not about defining yourself as one thing, it's about embracing all aspects of what make you the original powerful woman that you are.
Who helped you create this particular song? Who produced it?
Funnily enough it was all men that helped me to write “All Woman”. It was written by myself, Brian Howes, Jason Van Poederooyen and Nolan Sipe. It was also produced by Brian Howes and JVP. It was my first time working with this group of guys, but it was such a great experience. It was the first time I had ever written a song and recorded it in two days!
What made you want to release "All Woman" as a single?
I really just wanted to release a song about how I felt about being a woman, but I wanted to release it as a single now because I think it's a very fitting song for this time of female strength and empowerment. There is a lot of talk right now about how things are not equal for females in the music industry, but I know this is an issue that extends past the music community and into many other fields of work. It makes me so happy to see woman coming together to support one another and rise up to fight against this inequality. I was hoping this song could be an anthem for this movement. A song to remind women that they never have to put themselves in a box, that they can be whatever they want to be and accomplish anything.
What can you tell us about the artwork?
I worked with an awesome team for the artwork shoot, Ian Mccausland (photographer), Karla Chin (Makeup artist) and Nanci Dagg (amazing assistant). I have been working with this team for a long time and they always help to perfectly capture the look I want for my single or album artwork. I also had some other special and talented women help make this artwork come to life. First the one of a kind vintage jacket I am wearing in the photo is from one of my all-time favourite shops Shop Moda B. A shop created by a badass babe for badass babes. She is all about supporting women and creating a community to empower each other. Also, the single graphic was created by my long-time friend and talented artist Bree Taylor. Bree is not only a successful artist but also runs a design business. It’s great to be able to have the design done by someone who understands my vision but also to be able to support each other in our careers.
What appeals you the most about country music?
For me it’s always been about the stories. I’ve always felt that country music told real stories about real people and that’s what I want to do with my music.
What is your proudest career moment to date?
There are a lot of things I am proud of in my career but I think one of my proudest moments is performing in Shanghai, China for the past 5 years at The World Music Festival. When I began my singing career, I hoped it would take me on great adventures but I never knew it would put me on stage on the other side of the world!
What biggest lessons did you learn since the beginning of your career?
I have learned a lot! I have learned a lot of lessons about myself, about songwriting, techniques to improve my singing, but I think the biggest lessons I’ve learned are in business. I didn’t know much about the music business or business in general when I started my career. At some point I thought that aspect of my career wouldn’t be something I would have to deal with too much, that I would always have help with it, but in the last few years that is definitely something I have taken into my own hands and learned so much about.
What's the hardest part about being an artist? And what is the best part?
The hardest part about being an artist is also the best part about being an artist, that I get to do what I love every single day. That is so rewarding and amazing, because not everyone gets to follow their dream or passion, but it’s also what makes it so hard because my dream is also my job. A lot of times our passions or interests are our hobbies, it’s what we do to relax and escape the stress of our jobs so it’s difficult when your interests and your career are combined.
Who's helping you shape your artistry and career?
I am fortunate to have a great team behind me helping to shape my career. I work with some truly amazing people including the producers of All Woman, Brian Howes and JVP, my manager Jordyn Elliott and my mom who is a strong support and force behind my career. But someone who really helped guide me and shape me as an artist was my former manager Janice Starodub. She was so passionate about the music industry and about my career. She taught me so much about the business but also about being who I wanted to be as an artist and how to let that shine. I know she is still watching and guiding me from above.
How's it like to be a woman in the music industry?
Being a woman in the music industry is definitely more complicated than I thought it would be. Growing up I never imagined that being a woman would be a hinderance or hold me back from accomplishing my goals. But it definitely feels like things aren’t equal for males and females in the industry. It does feel like some progress has been made because we have called attention to the problem, but there is more to be done. There are a lot of talented country artists both male and female, but from my perspective as a female, it seems that female artists are held to a higher standard. If you are a male and you can sing it seems the industry assumes that is enough and people will take a chance on you, but if you are a female it is a risk to take that chance on you and you better have all the boxes checked in terms of talent, look and personality to even be considered. I think all artists male and female need to be seen equally and held to the same standards. Also, I think it’s wrong to assume that listeners want to hear more males on the radio than females, perhaps that was the way at some point, but I say poll again! I get sick of hearing male after male on the radio and would enjoy hearing more female voices. I do think it’s great that females are standing up for one another though. A lot of times people think that females want to tear other females down, but that certainly isn’t the case in country music. That is what I am trying to demonstrate with my shows All Women Music, Girl Talk and my new single. “All Woman” is about celebrating all aspects of being a woman, that you can love to rock a dress and jeans, it’s not about having to choose one thing to define yourself as a woman it’s about embracing everything that you are. And I would love to see the industry embrace more females as they are and not look at being female as some sort of disadvantage.
Besides art and music, what are you passionate about?
Other than music, my other loves are fitness and food. I actually dropped out of University to pursue my career in music but a couple years ago I went back to school online to become a certified fitness and nutrition expert. I’ve always loved working out and challenging myself in new ways, but going to school to learn about fitness and nutrition really changed my outlook and love for it. I went from thinking working out and eating right were something you had to do in order to look good but now I am so passionate about moving my body and fueling my body to support my mental health, it’s about feeling good not just about physical appearance. I am very passionate about sharing that outlook with everyone, especially women because I think adapting this mindset really helps to create a healthier relationship with yourself and your body image.
You are the founder of All Woman Music. Could you tell us more about it?
I am so excited about All Woman Music and what I am hoping it can do for women in the music industry. I created All Woman Music as a platform for women in music, not just country music, to empower and support one another. All Woman Music will be putting on acoustic singer songwriter showcases across Ontario, and hopefully beyond, featuring all female lineups. I was inspired to start All Woman after a lot of festival lineups being announced included almost all males on the bill. I wanted to give women more opportunities to perform live. Not only will All Woman give opportunities to established artists but also to those new to performing. When I was a young performer, I was confused about what to do and where to start in the music business and I want to help give those girls up and coming in the business somewhere to go for support and guidance.
What's your goal for your Girl Talk sessions?
Similar to All Woman, I started Girl Talk to give myself and other female country artists more opportunity to perform. I wanted a place where established female singers and songwriters could come together to perform but also to talk, open up and be honest. During Girl Talk my co-host, Alessia Cohle, and I ask our guests questions to get to know them as artists and how they feel about the industry. We also open up the floor to our audience to ask us questions to learn more about us and our music. My goal for Girl Talk has always been to create a song community of women who support and build each other up and to show the music industry how much women have to offer.
What message do you want to deliver to women around the world?
I want women around the world to know they can be exactly who they are. They never have to put themselves in a box or change for anyone. They can accomplish anything they want to. Their honest, authentic self is enough.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
If you don’t believe in yourself how do expect other people to.
What do you want to accomplish?
In music my ultimate goal that I aim to accomplish is to make people feel less alone. Growing up, and still to this day, listening to music made me feel less alone. I would listen to the lyrics of a song and think, wow this artist is feeling exactly how I’m feeling right now. I’ve always wanted people to feel the same way about my music. That they aren’t the only one feeling that emotion, or in that situation. That someone out there understands, and that listening to that song gives them that comfort.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
Well I think music definitely helps makes the world a good place! There are a lot of other things this world needs but I think to keep it simple the thing we need most to make this world a better place is kindness.
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