Daily Inspiration: Meet Tristan Ray

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tristan Ray.

Hi Tristan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started playing music in high school, covering Fall Out Boy songs in garages and writing with friends who dreamed about getting out of our hometown. Eventually, I traded in music for a “safe path” and stepped into the entertainment industry. I spent years at Sony Pictures, and later at Entertainment 360, where I worked for Evelyn O’Neill (<i>one of the most powerful women in Hollywood</i>). That job gave me the chance to serve A-list artists like Daniel Kaluuya, Greta Gerwig, Storm Reid, Julianne Moore, Salma Hayek Pinault, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Michael Chiklis. But somewhere along the way, I lost track of my own dream.

Then, in October 2023, I faced a career setback that left me at rock bottom. It was in that season of loss that I rediscovered my love for music. I started taking vocal lessons at Angeles Academy of Music and, piece by piece, I found myself again.

Now I’m pursuing a career as an artist. My debut single, Peace with the Past, comes out October 15 (<i>I was originally going to release it October 3, but Taylor Swift announced her album that day and I wasn’t about to compete with that</i>). To kick things off, I hosted a self-produced show on September 13 where I played the single live for the first time. Over 150 people showed up — which, for an unknown independent artist, meant the world.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. The industry looks so different from when I first started playing music in the Myspace era. Back then it was all about playing as many shows as possible and trying to build influence that way. Now it’s a content-driven world where an artist can break on any platform overnight. So one of the biggest struggles for me has been re-learning how the industry actually works.

The other struggle has been internal. Getting back the confidence to sing again after years away wasn’t easy. I remember my early vocal coaching sessions — the anxiety I felt was less about hitting notes and more about remembering how to breathe. It sounds funny now, but at the time it was a huge mental hurdle. Piece by piece though, I’ve been learning to trust my voice again and that’s what gave me the courage to record Peace with the Past.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m not following the usual path for a country artist. Most people head to Nashville, but I’ve chosen to build something here in Los Angeles. It’s where I’m from, and it’s where my version of country comes from. Long drives on the 405, heartbreak that doesn’t let go, and a city that teaches you to reinvent yourself when things fall apart.

I write songs that keep it real. Peace with the Past is about being haunted by the ghost of a relationship you thought you left behind. It’s the kind of truth you usually don’t admit out loud, but when you put it in a song, people see themselves in it.

One of the proudest moments of my journey so far was producing my own release show at a new wine bar concept in Costa Mesa. Over 150 people showed up to support me, even though I’m still an unknown independent artist. For me, that night was proof that music can cut through the noise and create community, no matter where it’s from and that’s the lane I’m carving from LA.

What makes you happy?
Two things make me happy: getting a day pass at a spa and putting my phone in a locker so I can do absolutely nothing except rest and reset. In my line of work, creativity asks for so much energy, and sometimes the best thing I can do for my music is to not think about it at all. The spa is my happy place.

The second is hot pot. Nothing hits like a table full of broth, noodles, and way too many side plates. After a spa day, hot pot just slaps. At the end of the day, my happy place is about slowing down and remembering why I do this in the first place.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tristanraymusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tristanraymusic
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/67LdtuRickolCJ1WA5FlBw?si=wLKo_7rwQxCjwqhpaDmEZQ

Image Credits
Carleigh Hyser (All Press Photos/Single Artwork for Peace with the Past) Grace Rawlins (Live Show Disposable Camera Image)