Today we’d like to introduce you to Hsin Lei Chao.
Hi Hsin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
RayRay has established herself as one of the most versatile artists out there. Hailing from the beautiful city of Taipei, this purple-haired bundle of energy cemented her status in the scene as a Red Bull Thre3style competition winner through a series of studio sessions with high-profile artists such as Skrillex, Yellow Claw, and Steve Aoki, where she proved to be one of the most versatile artists out there. Producing, DJ-ing, singing/rapping on her own tracks, and, most notably, always partying hard, RayRay knows how to deliver a solid live performance and never lets her fans down. No wonder she became one of the leading women on Barong Family since 2019.
Under the fabled Barong Family Label, she released three EPs: ‘Purple Alien’ in 2018, ‘Alien Invasion’ in 2019, and ‘Alien Mutation’ in 2021. RayRay’s new home on the Dutch imprint has made her a name in feverish demand, and as of today, she’s touring with her signature sound all over the globe, creating seismic experiences for her newfound fans. Labels were lining up to sign this multi-talented artist, with releases on Spinnin’ Records, Protocol Recordings, Dim Mak, as well as releases on Tiësto’s label Musical Freedom following soon enough.
Despite the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 didn’t slow this hardworking artist down one bit. With the dance scene at a standstill, RayRay started her live streaming channel on Twitch, landing a residency on Tiesto’s Musical Freedom Sirius XM Radio show. All in between touring the US and various countries in Asia. But the crowning achievement was placing 3rd in the Best of China award from DJMag. RayRay is, without a doubt, one of the hardest-working women in the industry. Besides touring and live streaming, she dropped some of the hottest bangers of the year. Her EP ‘Lasergun’ with Yellow Claw, ‘Pump it Up’ with Moksi, and ‘Where Are My Friends’ with Sihk are just some examples. Needless to say, RayRay is going places and doesn’t seem to slow down anytime soon.
One might assume after an incredible 2021, RayRay would slow down in 2022. Nothing could be further from the truth. A world tour took her to some of the best clubs and festivals the world has to offer, with the highlight, of course, being playing Tomorrowland in Belgium and multiple nights at ADE. On top of various high-profile collaborations, she also dropped her critically acclaimed album ‘Unearthly World’ with a sold-out exclusive live concert.
One could say 2023 is everything that RayRay hoped it would be, finishing three tours, performing 65 times in 16 countries, releasing a deluxe album, a remix album, and 9 singles, all while completing 100 trips around the world. One could see her casually playing at the biggest venues like Bootshaus, Warp, and Space Plus or Festivals like Ultra Taiwan and EDC China. Receiving the 1001tracklists award for being one of the ‘2023 Future of Dance’ artists was an incredible honor for this humble artist. But one thing is for sure, RayRay is once again showing no signs of slowing down in 2024.
2024 barely started, and RayRay has already cranked out 2 sonic pieces of ear candy, ‘To The Beat’ with Dyro and ‘Feel It’ with Sikdope. She went on tour through the United States supporting JVNA for an incredible 16 gigs in between playing EDC Mexico and officially moving to the United States. One can only wonder what else this Alien Queen holds in store for her fans this year.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As an artist from Taiwan, I have encountered hurdles related to representing my culture and identity on the global stage. Breaking into international markets and gaining recognition outside of my home country has been my everyday homework. Navigating the competitive landscape of the music industry, securing bookings, and maintaining relevance in an ever-evolving field are also common challenges. How to stay current, balance creative pursuits with the demands of the industry, and carve out my unique identity.
Over the past 2 years, there have been so many changes in my life. I was torn apart after the loss of my cousin & my good friend, the breakup, and my depression. Music has been my only getaway, so that was the reason why I decided to make an album to express my feelings and everything I have been experiencing in the past.
I think traveling and meeting friends from all over the world definitely help me see many things different from my daily life. I like to hang out with talented artists so I can understand their ideas and the different ways they view the world. I also love to listen to all kinds of music, including jazz, funk, soul, reggae, disco, and house for inspiration. I also love to record all the sounds that surround me, and I always make them into music. I think the only way to prevent your heart and your life from getting stale is to be open-minded, enjoy the moment, and create something cool from your heart.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have been interested in music since childhood. I learned piano and played cello in school orchestra in junior high school. I first discovered hip-hop music when I was 14 or 15 years old and fell in love with this music genre completely. I like to pay a tribute to my roots of hip-hop music and combine all different types of music into my set. It’s always easy for me to switch everything up and give the audience everything they want at once. Sometimes, you can catch my full live set, which features me scratching or playing drum machines.
I started making music because of DJ Shadow & J Dilla… They inspired me to combine hip-hop and modern electronic music together. I am always trying to do my own thing and navigating my own way through the music scene. I am not too bothered that I have to fit in one certain music genre. I just love doing whatever I want to do.
When I did my first EP, “Purple Alien,” on Barong Family, “it was kind of a way to introduce “RayRay” into the EDM world with the Barong Family Signature sound. After that, I started focusing on my vocals in the production. There were just some short phrases in the beginning, and it transited to the proper verses and hip-hop-influenced raps in the second EP, “Alien Invasion,” on Barong Family. For my third EP, “Alien Mutation,” which I dropped during the Pandemic. I would say my sound had some significant changes in this EP. Instead of having only one music genre, I was able to play around my vocals and my sound in multiple music genres. I took the vocal lessons to improve my singing skill and apply it to my music.
I just released an album, “Unearthly World,” last November. I wanted to show the listeners and my fans the emotional side of me. Everything you hear in this album has some meanings – the way I processed my vocals, the way I sang on the songs, the reasons I came up with the ideas of the songs, the way I structured the songs, the orders of the track list, and so on.
And, yes. My vocals are definitely my significant sound now. I’m enjoying to make music with my vocals.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
What Happened to You? By Oprah Winfrey
Contact Info:
- Website: rayrayofficial.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/djrayraytaiwan
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeeJayRayRay.Taiwan
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/DJRayRay_Taiwan
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/DJRayRayTaiwan
- SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/djrayray
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4FS6bomikvJR2E9JHNwiAM?si=jiMogtatS9WB6vBd2_gslA
