Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Raycee Jones

Indie singer-songwriter Raycee Jones is one to watch in 2021. Her upbeat pop tunes and powerhouse vocals have captivated listeners around the world. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to chat with Raycee about her career, her songwriting process, and her latest single “Final Serenade“.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Raycee: I definitely discovered it during my youth. Anytime I’d watch a movie and I would hear a song, I would rewind it and learn all the lyrics. It was at that point that I knew singing was something I would do forever. It was in college when that really solidified. I started writing songs and I was like, “You know what? I have to give this a whirl.” I definitely discovered it in my youth.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Raycee: My father has had a huge influence on me in terms of my pursuing music and being an active participant in all things artistic. He’s constantly showing me new music. He always dives super deep into everything that he listens to. Growing up with somebody like that definitely impacted me a lot. I’m the same way. I zoom in on all those little things.

PC: Tell us about “Final Serenade” and the inspiration behind the song.
Raycee: I wrote this song a few years ago. I feel like when you pursue something like music, due to the age differences of your colleagues and whatnot, everyone reaches different pivotal points at different times. You have those friendships and collaborations that you think will last forever. Then life happens and people start going in different directions and choosing new paths, maybe picking up new jobs, whatever it may be. I wrote this song about the dynamic of an artist going from simply being creative to being full-time in their art and choosing to go into it as a career—maybe leaving their passion behind in a sense and whether that’s something we have to do. If we choose to go into a career with our music, are we ever able to fully leave our passion behind? Will it always be there?

The song’s chorus is, “When the beat hits, you feel it in your chest. It never lasts.” It’s kind of like no matter what you leave behind, when something like a song comes up to remind you of it, have you really left it or do you get taken right back to it? That was the inspiration behind this song. Now that I’m releasing it after the pandemic, it feels even more relevant. It asks, “Where do we go now?” The things that we used to love pre-COVID are back with us now. Do we find ourselves again or do we say goodbye to that past? Where are we now?

PC: You’re an artist that’s been steadily releasing music throughout the years. If you had to pick one song that best encompasses who you are as an artist, which would it be and why?
Raycee: Good question. The song that I gravitate towards the most is my single “Fire & Ice.” It’s the last single that we released when I did my EP back in 2018. I don’t know if it’s necessarily lyrically the one that represents me best, but I love to sing that one. It feels like an honest song for my voice. It’s definitely the first tune that if people are like, “Oh, play me something,” then I’m like, “Here’s ‘Fire & Ice.’”

PC: What is your creative process like? Has it changed throughout the years?
Raycee: Anytime you collaborate with somebody new, your style changes in ways. What has remained is that I’m still an emotional writer. I need to be in a very specific emotional place to produce something I feel proud of or that I would want to release as my own.

I can get into a creative zone if I’m writing for somebody else. That’s a little easier to do sometimes. But when it comes to my art, it definitely needs to come from an authentic place. So I usually collaborate with people who operate on the same wavelength. I like to be with people who are like, “Let’s just go.” We can flow in a room. If someone starts playing a little looped section, then we start layering vocals on top of it. Usually, there’s some lyrical note that I have in my phone that I pull out and start riding on. We build it like that. I definitely like to be a part of the whole process, whether it’s a produced beat or with a live band.

PC: As we look ahead to the rest of 2021, what does the year hold for you?
Raycee: People can expect a deeper authenticity. Not that that wasn’t already there, but I’m definitely in a place now where I feel a little more grounded with respect to why I’m making art and in terms of wanting to move forward into this new world. I’m going to take playing shows a little more seriously. There’s a lot of work to be done in terms of the music industry having more respect for live artists and being able to move into a place where there’s fairer pay and more opportunities for artists to thrive instead of giving out all of our services for free. I don’t know if that change will happen because you see people who are just eager to play shows. Some venues are going to benefit from that, but I’m trying to be a little more intentional with how I navigate that because it’s time that we as artists stand our ground and try to figure that out.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: First album you bought?
Raycee: It was JLo or Mýa.

PC: First concert you attended?
Raycee: *NSYNC. I’m telling you, I’m a pop child. I saw them at Jones Beach.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Raycee: There are two! My family would listen to the Bodyguard soundtrack when we were on road trips. We took a lot of little road trips down to Florida because my father’s family is down there. We’re a family of six. We would hop in that minivan and cruise on down. I would make my father play that soundtrack over and over. Whitney was my first idol. But if we’re talking about an album that changed me as an adult, it has to be Beyoncé’s Lemonade. It changed my view on a lot of things.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Raycee: Red Rocks Amphitheatre. I’ve never been there, but every time I see it, I want to perform there. Sometimes when I get to big arena shows, I get very emotional.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Raycee: A good pillow and an eye mask. I love to sleep.

To keep up with Raycee, follow her on Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music. Pick up or stream “Final Serenade” today.

Photo Credit: Gabriela gabrielaa