B to the RAY

Hey… so …I did an email interview with Bray a few weeks ago...
If you want some insight into the guy behind the music... check it out:



Q: How was the band formed?


A: i sent a request to the universe: "please send me a group of worldclass / bad-ass musicians... all shorter than me."
they came to me through internet advertisements, word of mouth, and osmosis.


Q: Why/how did you choose the band’s name?


A: i thought to myself.... this project should carry a name that describes the sound. then i thought... "bray.... that's the sound an ass makes. perfect!"
Bray also happens to be my real name. quite a coincidence.


Q: What’s your favorite part about performing live?


A: along with sex, performing live for me is the truest form of living in the moment. matter of fact, i can't tell the difference between the 2.


Q: What’s your greatest memory with the band?


A: so far it's the festival we did in France. i lost my voice the day of the show, and i was sorta freaking out. i decided to save my voice by not speaking, so i wrote "lost my voice. can't speak. sorry." on a post-it note. the band was making fun of me because i kept answering questions by just holding up this post-it. just before the show, i prayed to the Gods for my voice to return. somehow when we got up on stage, everything clicked. i looked out and saw family and friends that came all the way from the states to see us play in France! we played a phenomenal show, and after every song, i kept asking the crowd "Ca va?" which means 'everybody cool?' it's the only thing i knew how to say. well, not the only thing... maybe after each song, i should've asked "excusez moi, ou est la salle de bains?"


Q: What’s the last album you bought?


A: Arj Barker "Issue were here" (stand-up comedy)


Q: What’s the first album you ever bought?


A: the Fat Boys' first record.


Q: How’d you get involved in music?


A: Michael Jackson and Prince were my idols growing up. i was so moved by what they did! i performed in the high school talent show, and that was it for me.
i've never been a practical person, so music was the perfect career move.


Q: Being in a band doesn’t always pay the bills. When you aren’t playing, what do you and the other members do for money?

A: music may not always pay the bills, but perseverance does.



Q: How long has the band been around?


A: this line up is going on it's 3rd year.


Q: If you weren’t musicians what would you be?


A: something in the arts for sure. an illustrator, an actor, a writer.... i've always been interested in early Hungarian cabinet making.


Q: It's your dream concert. You can play anywhere in the world with any artist or band past or present, alive or dead. Where would you perform and with whom?


A: i would like to play to the largest audience ever assembled. this event should be held anywhere that could accomodate this large a crowd. there should be airfare specials so people from all over the world could come. the other groups? hmm... how bout the beatles, ryuichi sakamoto, brian regan, and me!?




Q: What’s your favorite color?



A: tangerine

Q: What style of music would you best describe your sound as?


A: maybe it's mabelline.

Music = makeup? Alrighty


Q: If you had to compare your band with another which would it be and why?


A: i don't care for comparisons. i also don't think art can be described as good or bad. finally, i don't care for people who can't answer a simple question.
therefore, the yeah yeah yeahs. because they are raw, daring, and fronted by a girl. wait....

haha…is there a secret you would like to share with us?

Q: Where did you grow up?


A: in the east bay. vallejo, concord, and oakland. mostly concord.


Q: What’s the best thing about being from SF?


A: it's one of the 2 or 3 most forward-thinking cities in the world.
other things i love about SF: the haight, the marina ,the Bridge theatre, japantown, cable cars, grubby art galleries, the restaurants, .... and the people.


Q: Who are your favorite local bands?


A: pc munoz, malcolm marshall, quincy ramone, the lovemakers, minipop, BRAY


Q: What was the last show you played and with who?


A: we played at our monthly SF residency... pier 23! this particular show was a benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. the other acts were brittany shane, wish inflicted, and the cons.


Q: What is the one thing you dislike most about the current day music scene?
-SF specifically?

A: no complaints.



Q: -Ideas of how to change it?



A: what happened to the California Music Awards?

Q: What is the one thing you love about the SF music scene?


A: i love this new media girl on the scene. her name is Paige.


Q: What’s you favorite book?


A: i like the entire Travis McGee series by John D. MacDonald.
Lolita was good, too.


Q: What’s your favorite movie?


A: Amelie.


Q: How was playing SXSW?


A: we had a BALL!
next year... bigger and deffer... : )

Q: Worst your hotel experience while touring?

A: we stayed at a strange sort of youth hostel place in Los Angeles where i was accosted and tormented by a giant woman with dusty feet.
truthfully, this was also my best hotel experience.


THE END