LA Wire
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Advertise
LA Wire
LA Wire
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Advertise
  • Entertainment

‘Bringing Soul to Synth-pop- How Freestyle Musician Ray Guell’s New Album is as Vulnerable as it is Catchy”

  • Johnny Bigg
  • February 11, 2021
  • 4 minute read
Total
44
Shares
44
0
0

The myth surrounding electronic dance music, or its more popular initialism EDM, is limiting to say the least. Although intended to be used as a catch-all term for popular electronic genres like disco, synth-pop, electro and their multitude of sub-genres, it is widely considered to be the stuff of hazy nightclubs and percussive dance beats, a manifestation of millennial rave culture. One would hardly expect dance music to come from a place of meaningfulness or emotion; and yet, throughout the span of his almost three decade-long career, Ray Guell has consistently proved that he really can do it all: create unbelievably catchy discotheque beats laden with snappy synth textures, and combine them with lyrics and themes that are meaningful, emotional and far from skin-deep.

With Defined, his most recent studio album, the collaboration between Guell and popular  American music producer Giuseppe D is a treat to witness. The ostensible blend of Guiseppe’s creativity and musicianship and Guell’s penchant for artistic, unique sound and lyricism has made it clear that Defined is not an album we will forget soon. According to Guell, “Recording and writing music is a very vulnerable place to be, but with him I felt safe and I was able to explore different artistic choices.  I knew and trusted that he would not let me sound bad.” And it seems that Guell’s efforts have more than paid off;  In just the first week of its release, Defined was in the top 10 of the Top Dance Albums on iTunes, and peaked at #13 and #12 in France and Germany, respectively.

But this is certainly not Guell’s first experience with chart-toppers. “Love Will Come”, which was released in 2008, and “Love Is the Answer”,  released in 2010, ranked 22 and 32 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. Even then, Guell was inclined to explore themes of love, heartbreak and disillusionment, which perhaps is what demarcates his work from the deluge of other electronic music. This is not surprising; freestyle music, which is Guell’s primary domain, has a history of underlying despondence and heartbreak. With its roots in New York in  the 80’s, one of its most popular inflections was the theme of heartbreak set against an urban backdrop like NYC, which captures the soul of Guell’s discography.

 But what makes this new album so different from his other works is that Guell is now more honest and raw than ever.  In more ways than one, Defined is undoubtedly a labor of love, a distillation of the last 8 years of Guell’s life, allowing his fans to trace his journey from episodes of loss, heartbreak, to even his struggles with mental health. With Giuseppe D’s encouragement, Guell seems to shine brighter than ever, with synthy beats that make you dance and lyrics that speak to your soul.

Perhaps the best example of this vulnerability can be seen in Haunting visions, the 12th track of the album, which Guell wrote while trying to cope with the loss of his father. Still reeling from a depressive episode following this, he found solace in channeling his grief into writing a song which could capture his emotions. According to Guell, he had initially no intention of including the song in his album, but later decided that it should be a part if he wanted the album to be as authentic and heartfelt as possible. With its eerie, almost foreboding melody, it is an accurate reflection of its name. And yet the emotive lyrics and imagery make it one of the most unforgettable tracks on the album.

The first track on the album was, incidentally, also the first project which Guell and Giuseppe D collaborated on. Toe-tappingly catchy, with a synth-popesque melody, its uplifting tone is almost symbolic to Guell’s state of mind while creating it. Explaining how the song and the subsequent collaboration with Giuseppe D was almost his stepping stone into creating Defined, Guell explained, “ I don’t remember much about why I wrote these lyrics, but this was the first time Giuseppe and I actually connected on a very personal level. This was a bit before my breakdown but little did I know what was coming for me around the corner.  Disillusioned from the music industry and life at that point, I decided to dive in and get back to creating music. I remember having a heart-to-heart with him about my thoughts and somehow these lyrics came to be.”. And without a doubt, the plaintive romantic feel was the perfect start to a versatile and meaningful new album.

Defined also features a rendition of My World is Empty Without You, the pop-soul ballad by Diana Ross and The Supremes from 1966. The song held a special place in Guell’s heart, and he collaborated with Company B, an American Latin-freestyle trifecta who rose to prominence in the 80’s, creating a fitting parallel with the original version. Guell explained that Company B was an obvious choice for him, as he had been a fan since the band’s inception in 1986, and was now close friends with the band members.

Coincidently, as Ray releases the single and remix EP for My World is Empty Without You on Valentine’s Day this month, it is also an homage to Mary Wilson, one of the original members of The Supremes who recently passed away. 

Although Defined can currently be streamed on all major music platforms, there are some new releases scheduled to release in February 2021, including a single which is slated for release on the 12th. But if it’s predecessors are anything to go by, it is almost certain to be another treasure for fans of Dance music-just the right amount of snappy and sentimental.

Total
44
Shares
Share 44
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Johnny Bigg
Johnny Bigg

Johnny is the CEO and Founder of Bigg Media, LLC. Mr. Bigg has successfully built, scaled, and sold 3 seven-figure companies. He is excellent at scoping and investigating publishing efforts and requirements, creating a publishing plan strategic for businesses.

Related Topics
  • Artist
  • Music
  • Musician
Previous Article
  • Business

DermaBoss: The Socially-Conscious Choice in All-Natural Skin Care

  • Johnny Bigg
  • February 11, 2021
Read More
Next Article
  • Business

Rick Contreras: Building Wealth Through E-commerce

  • Johnny Bigg
  • February 11, 2021
Read More
You May Also Like
Read More
  • Entertainment

Rising Hip-Hop Star Suave Sets His Sights on the Future of Music and Entertainment

  • Martin Cruz
  • March 3, 2021
Read More
  • Entertainment

Kevin T. DeWitt Is Changing the Narrative for African-Americans in the Acting Industry

  • Martin Cruz
  • March 3, 2021
Read More
  • Entertainment

Kayana Herndon: Multi-Talented Independent Artist Drops Perfect Pandemic Jingle, “6 Feet”

  • Johnny Bigg
  • March 2, 2021
Read More
  • Entertainment

Diana Sorokova’s BALLERINA STRONG Technique Teaches Powerful Elegance

  • Johnny Bigg
  • March 2, 2021
Read More
  • Entertainment

GriffPX Speeds Onward to His Success, Gearing Up For His New Album, “Rush”

  • Martin Cruz
  • March 1, 2021
Read More
  • Entertainment

Balaban Expert Alp Akmaz on Developing Microphones for Woodwind Instruments

  • Martin Cruz
  • March 1, 2021
Read More
  • Entertainment

Clas A. Poet’s Evolution from Laidback to Rap Enigma

  • Martin Cruz
  • March 1, 2021
Read More
  • Entertainment

Rising Rap Artist Kinnu Cobain Gears Up for His Brand-New Shoe Line MAKATTI Cobain

  • Johnny Bigg
  • February 26, 2021

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Featured Posts
  • 1
    VOLÉR DESIGN Elevates Streetwear Fashion by Taking Luxury to New Heights
    • March 5, 2021
  • 2
    Giant Lifestyle Creator Felix Wisniewski on His Course, Flipping Medical Commodities University
    • March 5, 2021
  • 3
    Meet Providing Professionals with a Way to Earn through Paid Meetups
    • March 4, 2021
  • 4
    Alongside Brother Kip, Sophia Dunn-Walker Advocates for Youth With Disabilities Through Art
    • March 4, 2021
  • 5
    Multilingual Civil War Survivor Wahira LaBelle Shares a Message of Hope
    • March 3, 2021
Recent Posts
  • Ever Luxy: Striving Amid the Pandemic in Style
    • March 3, 2021
    • 3 minute read
  • Rising Hip-Hop Star Suave Sets His Sights on the Future of Music and Entertainment
    • March 3, 2021
    • 3 minute read
  • Kevin T. DeWitt Is Changing the Narrative for African-Americans in the Acting Industry
    • March 3, 2021
    • 2 minute read
LOS ANGELES WIRE

Follow Us

Likes
Followers
Categories
  • Business (533)
  • Entertainment (401)
  • Health (47)
  • Lifestyle (83)
  • Uncategorized (2)
Recent Posts
  • VOLÉR DESIGN Elevates Streetwear Fashion by Taking Luxury to New Heights
  • Giant Lifestyle Creator Felix Wisniewski on His Course, Flipping Medical Commodities University
  • Meet Providing Professionals with a Way to Earn through Paid Meetups
  • Alongside Brother Kip, Sophia Dunn-Walker Advocates for Youth With Disabilities Through Art
  • Multilingual Civil War Survivor Wahira LaBelle Shares a Message of Hope
All Rights Reserve © 2020
  • Write for Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact Us
  • Contributor Login

Input your search keywords and press Enter.