Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Ray.
Jacob, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in and around music since basically the start of my life. The story, (as my mom tells it), is that I was born on a Saturday, and was with her the next morning at church under the piano while she played. (she got sick because she wasn’t supposed to leave the hospital) I’d like to think that has something to do with why I feel like music is such a big part of me, I was almost born into it! Growing up, my brothers and I all played together and pretty much everyone in my extended family played at least one instrument.
Fast forwarding to college, I was already pretty confident in my ability to play and in high school I wrote a couple of songs here and there but nothing serious. Freshman year of college was kind of where I fell in love with writing songs, I would do it all the time as kind’ve a coping mechanism. Fights with my girlfriend at the time – write a song about it. Thinking about a past fling – write a song about it. It became a good outlet in my life that was much needed that just playing instrument couldn’t fill sometimes. As I began to develop my own style and just writing whatever felt like, when sophomore year came, I started wanting to record them. I didn’t trust anyone else to record my stuff, (especially cause of the musician side of me, I was a very do everything myself kinda guy).
So I got an old laptop off craigslist and a cheap interface and one microphone and began recording in my apartment. Every single day I would come from class and immediately began working on music. And after the semester was over I had enough songs recorded to make an EP, and it was all I could think about. I ended up having a conversation with my dad and telling him that I didn’t think I was supposed to continue going through college. I told him it would waste my time and his money and what little money I had from playing gigs here and there. Luckily, he loves me and was very supportive and helped me move back to Houston and that year I released the EP and really pursued my artist stuff and worked enough to save up to move to LA.
When I got to LA, I made the decision very quickly to put my artist stuff to the side and keep it in my bedroom and develop it privately, and focus on producing. My first week here, I met one of my best friends out here, Isaac Valens. He’s an incredible producer and writer and has been a major influence in who I am as an artist and producer. He took me under his wing and helped show me kind’ve how the industry works and how to create with other people fluidly. Through working with him, I met a lot of other artists, writers, and producers that have all led to now. Also, shout out to Josh Valle, Imad Royal, and Nicholas Veinoglou. I’m thankful to have good friends that inspire and also are just good people.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’m not gonna say it’s been smooth, but it definitely could’ve been worse. I feel like I struggled (and still struggle) with the same things that every creative has. In high school, I always knew I wanted to do music, so there was a big struggle of trying to figure out what that would look like and explain it to my parents and have them trust me enough to drop out of college. Living in LA obviously has tons of struggles within itself like finding solid friends, consistent income, and just mental health in general. Somehow I’ve been lucky enough to be busy with music and make enough money to not have to get a day job that’s not music related. It’s been tough living frugally and not always knowing where my next check is gonna come from.
But if anything, I feel like that’s how I’ve made it out here for a year and a half, is the fear kind’ve forces me to always be working and trying to make myself secure financially. I was very fortunate to find good friends pretty early on, but of course, I’ve still struggled with feeling like I’m alone, or that nobody in this massive city cares that I’m here, or if my music is worth anything. But it goes away most times when I create or just get up and do something. I didn’t make a single dollar until my third month living here, and a lot of those days until then were spent in bed being alone and sad, but it got better! Living here has made me grow up a lot, especially since my whole family is back in Houston, TX. But I gotta go where the music is! I always say if the music scene was hot and poppin’ in somewhere like Idaho or Ohio that that’s where I would be. LA is just the place to be right now if you’re an artist or producer/writer, so here I am!
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am an artist, and I make music. I actually just dropped a couple of throwaway songs for people to listen to until I get my shiz together for my actual artist stuff. My artist name on streaming platforms is just Jacob Ray. Since I’ve moved to LA, I’ve been lucky enough to work on songs with artists like Gallant, T-Pain, Kai, GRAACE, and TONS more of that I love and am honored to be able to work with. I’m trying not to focus so much on producing as much I have been, but of course I’ll never stop working with friends and people I think are dope.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think the biggest thing I’ve made my focus on is relationships. Before any money, and any success, I wanted to make sure that I’m actually liked and respected as a person and friend before the music. Because at the end of the day, while music is obviously an important factor, the relationships and friendships are what’s going to last and matter when everything is done. Before placements, radio play, or money, I would encourage you to look inward at yourself and make sure that you’re easy to work with, and people can count on you. Most opportunities that have been placed in front of me have been through friends. Not by asking for them, but for being available and people knowing they can count on me to get stuff done.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/jacobraymusic/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6PCQoWsQikOQzeVyNRAMHm?si=1HrIoEFlS–efpWcV_ArrQ
Image Credit:
Daniela Salinas
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