The Raynes

September 4th, 2008

It has been quite some time since I have posted a blog...My explanation is simple...Since The Promise started climbing the charts in Canada, 'the Raynes' have had to work harder than ever!

Don't get me wrong...I'm not complaining...I sincerely appreciate the fact that we have new reasons to continue our quest to be heard...And the opportunities that have come our way have been beyond what most independent bands are offered...I would be hiding part of the story however, if I didn't at least say that I now fully understand the old saying, “Be careful what you wish for because it just might happen”!

And so it did happen...we have achieved the dream that almost every musician in the world wishes they could achieve...Hearing their own song on the radio...And that feeling is exactly what it is thought to be...Amazing...I believe it's because there is a sense of validation when you have stations across your own country that play your music...I hang on to this feeling every single day.

The other dream that most songwriters want to achieve is to connect, touch or move people with their message and music...I can honestly say that has certainly begun to show itself as well...We have received hundreds of emails and posted comments from people all across Canada that are filled with kindness and words that are so powerful, that my heart beat accelerates when I read them...These are the things I hold on to in this endless journey...not only because I want to, but because I need to.

The truth is, if it wasn't for the emails, comments and the believers at the radio stations, I don't know that I would continue this journey...not because I don't love music...On the contrary...I adore music and it will always be in my life one way or another...But the 'music-business' is a completely different story and is nowhere near as glamorous as many people (including myself) imagine it.

But the quest will continue...the only difference is that now I see the road much clearer because my eyes have been opened...I see the truth for what it really is...and I believe as tough as it has been and will no doubt continue to be, I'm proud to say that I know the harsh reality...because this new found knowledge proves that the only reason that I personally continue to press forward is because I sincerely care about music...and that alone, brings peace to my soul.

January 5th, 2008

What a year!

I can’t believe that at this time last year…Shade and I we’re still producing the album (I can still remember the seemingly endless mixing sessions with Larry!) The experiences I’ve had in ‘07 are so different from any other time in my life…I look back on the decision to co-create the Raynes as one of the best I’ve made. At the root of it all…I think the biggest thing I’ve learned last year is to never give up if you believe in something. This lesson I take from my best friend Shade…as I remember his tireless energy and deep-rooted commitment to this project. In every decision we make, I can’t help but notice how determined and positive his character is…it actually starts to rub off on you after awhile! Looking forward to this year, I feel even more excited and inspired. Whether it be creating the upcoming video for ‘The Promise’, touring more radio stations, performing live shows or starting to write for the next album…I’m eager to endure the next set of experiences.

2008 holds much ‘promise’ for the Raynes.

December 31st, 2007

As I contemplated the subject of the final blog of 2007, I received an email through our website from a new friend. By the way, I prefer to use the word friend now (instead of fan), because personally I believe 'friend' is a much more accurate description of the relationship between us (the Raynes) and those who care about our music...So this email from our new friend contained the perfect answer to what this blog should be about...”Appreciation”!

Our friend had beautiful things to say about our music...The compliments were so descriptive, I must admit that I blushed at times while reading them...however, above all the accolades, the one statement that stood out to me most was the reminder of “the importance of being heard”...the Raynes were heard in 2007...and interestingly enough, in Canada we hit #42 on the Hot AC Spin Charts, yet we broke the Top 40, hitting #38 on the Hot AC Radio Audience Charts...and so, despite the fact that we were and continue to be completely independent, our first single "The Promise" was literally heard by millions of Canadians...and although I always believed our music would resonate with people, even I must confess that I didn't see these numbers coming.

So before ‘the Raynes’ begin putting work and focus into the desires & goals of 2008, I feel the need to show my appreciation for every relationship and experience of 2007…Which for more reasons than the success of ‘The Promise’, will go down in my personal history books as “The Very Best Year Of My Life”!

With that in my heart & mind…Allow me to extend my most sincere Thanks to all of You who touched my life in 2007…In Your Company, I have no doubt that all of us will be heard in 2008…

November 5th, 2007

The Myspace Blunder...what else can I call this situation? I don't want to use profanity, however I must admit that when I found out that our myspace page was deleted with no warning & without explanation I immediately lost my battle to temptation!

the Raynes had reached almost 7000 fans, most of which were Canadian...Being a band from Windsor Ontario we were very proud of that fact...Cliff & I communicated with fans directly on a daily/weekly basis regardless of what our schedules were like...then suddenly, during the later part of October they disappeared...I believe I can speak for the Raynes and say we both felt extremely ill that afternoon.

We have since been communicating with the "powers that be" with the hope that they will bring our original site & more importantly...our friends back. I won't go into my feelings on how that correspondence is going...lets just say it is definitely not on any top 10 list of fun things to do. What I will say is that it has me asking this question: Is myspace dead? I'm not sure what the answer is exactly but I do believe that it is definitely not in good health. It is common knowledge that the myspace world is and always has been a poorly run program that most certainly has its fair share of glitches...But now I see more than ever that there was only one truly redeeming quality of myspace to begin with and it had nothing to do with the circuitry...it was the people that were on it! It was those who love debating thoughts, music & art of any kind that made myspace a wonderful place to be...

So in closing, I will do the one thing that so many suggest one should never do and that is to answer a question with a question...however, I believe there is always an exception to tradition and in my opinion, this is one of those occasions...So, is myspace really dead? The answer is simply the response to this question...Have the fans of debate, music & art gone somewhere else?

October 15th, 2007

Not too long ago, I received an email from a fan...the person asked me if it was okay to use the lyrics from a song I wrote called "Forever & All Time"...it is song 12 on the Raynes debut CD.

The person continued by saying they wanted to use it to commemorate the passing of an immediate family member...I was honored & speechless at the same time...of course, I granted permission without hesitation...after all, this is exactly what the song was about.

This gracious fan also asked me if I had been inspired by my own personal loss of someone very close...I did respond & said that I had not...I felt I needed to explain how I came to write this song.

I suppose the easiest way to describe my reason to write this piece is to admit that I have always found it ironic that we say the most beautiful things about people when they pass...but so often we fail to do so while they are here...I decided it would be different for my loved ones...basically, this song was written for all of my close friends & family who are engraved in my heart...I wanted them to know how I would feel if they were no longer with me...but I wanted them to know it while they were still here.

It was one of the most difficult lyrics I ever had to write because I had to picture my loved ones gone...needless to say, it was extremely overwhelming!

This fan sent me the clipping out of the paper it was placed in...While reading it, I felt proud...& sad at the same time...I've never felt that way before...but somehow, by the end of the clipping I felt peace & hope...I can only pray that is what our fans family feels as well...

September 6th, 2007

As you all know, we are an independent band. Although there are obvious advantages in being a "signed" act, I must say that for me personally there is a pride in knowing that every single thing that happens with "the Raynes" is purely based on the music. There is no big machine or big money influencing whatever success comes to this band. I mention this because I just received radio stats showing that twenty radio stations are now playing our music on rotation. Suddenly, I'm seeing us on radio play lists & reviews along side very "successful" bands that are signed to established labels with more money & power than the Raynes could ever dream of. When I think of the fact that just over eight weeks ago Cliff & I were in Amherstburg Ontario performing (& celebrating) for our first unofficial CD release party, I begin to believe that our work is quickly earning what I call "honest validation". All of this being said, much of the credit must go to the Music & Program Directors who decided to play our first single "The Promise". Their decision to support us is not only an amazing compliment, but also a motivation to keep writing & performing. So on behalf of "the Raynes", I would like to sincerely thank all the stations for choosing to play our music & for playing an important role in our golden dream!

July 30th, 2007

I love songs...I love lyrics...I love performing live...I love the fans...that is why I have devoted myself to music my entire life...the connection I feel with my emotions and to the people who are listening, is the most powerful feeling in the world...it is so powerful to me, that it's actually worth dealing with the BUSINESS of music...which I am not fond of...in fact, I hate it.

Songwriting royalties, Publishing rights, Master Ownership, who deserves this for that etc...I truly don't enjoy this part because even though it's just business, it begins to put a value on each of us as individuals...and that just never feels right to me...but it is a harsh reality & is unfortunately...very necessary!

There is only one reason that it is even remotely tolerable; his name is Cliff McPherson...my friend & equal partner in "the Raynes"! Cliff & I are forced to talk about business issues on a regular basis because we are self financing Stonecliff Records, which is the name of our independent label that is supporting the Raynes. It sounds simple enough...but not everything on a business level is always equal...and because we are Artists first, it is difficult for us to change hats and suddenly have to say that one of us has a different value or position than the other...because we both know that at the root of it all...the songs need the both of us...so trust me when I say, that it's not easy & it's not fun & it's definitely NOT why we make music!

All that being said, I will end with this...I couldn't ask for a better business partner...Cliff in music & in business always conducts himself with dignity & respect for my point of view & position...his heart is always in the right place & greed is never his motive...even when we don't fully agree on something, he never loses sight of the fact that the music is all that really matters!

June 4th, 2007

Cliff & I have received several comments about the cover of our album...although many people love it, there are several who see it as "freaky" or "more appropriate for a heavy metal band". I personally am just happy that it has stimulated conversation...when is the last time that has happened? I have been asked the question "What does the cover mean?"...to that I usually answer "whatever YOU see in it"...that is the beauty of photography art!
I am not ready to share what I personally see in this photo because I do not want to influence others or what they view. However I will say this...I look at the photography on "silver baby...golden dream" as one piece. There are a total of six amazing photos featured on our cd which were taken by my personal friend Frank Amato who lives in California (I will tell you more about him in a future blog), and I believe they need to be seen all together while the music is playing to truly speak. Although I am not for or against downloading, I suppose the only problem I see is that it's hard to appreciate all of the beauty of an album when you remove pieces & colours from it...you are not experiencing the art the way it was intended by the artist. In closing, I hope you all find a way to fully experience "silver baby...golden dream".

May 6th, 2007

Shade and I have just finished a photo shoot with my good friend and former boss Mike Booth (DCI Photography). It was a cool idea to go into the now abandoned building where Mike and I had worked before it's closing in early 2006 and take photos of us all dressed up. To us, these photos tell a story about the condition of businesses in Windsor, especially in the manufacturing sector. Thanks to Sandy and John for letting us in!