GEMMA RAY performs the song "DESOTO" for BalconyTV.
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PRESENTED BY ANNA BILIC
Born in Basildon, Essex and raised in Billericay, she currently resides in Berlin. Ray fuses many disparate genres, and has been given diverse tags such as “pop-noir”, “sideways blues”, and “gothic folk”. She has collaborated with, amongst others, Sparks, Filmorchester Babelsberg, Michael J Sheehy, Matt Verta-Ray, Alan Vega, Thomas Wydler and Howe Gelb.[1]
She has released several albums on the Bronzerat label.[2] The first The Leader in 2008, and co-produced with Michael J Sheehy. Whilst struck down with illness, she wrote and recorded the album Lights Out Zoltar! (released 2009) which earned her an Independent Music Award.[3] After seeing her live supporting Mott the Hoople, Jimmy Page was roused to announce that Gemma was “not to be missed!”.[4]
In 2009 she recorded an album entitled It’s A Shame About Gemma Ray (released 2010) with Matt Verta-Ray of Heavy Trash, at his NY Hed studios.[5] It featured 18 cover versions including a merging of Sonic Youth's “Drunken Butterfly” lyrics, set to the music of Kryzstof Komeda’s “Rosemary’s Baby” theme.
In 2010, she was stranded in Australia for a few weeks after the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull erupted.[6] Whilst grounded there she unwittingly began recording a new album returning in 2011 to complete what become Island Fire. The album was a 6Music Album of the Day,[7] peaked at number 19 on the CMJ chart[8] and the video for album track "Rescue Me" appeared on the revamped Top of the Pops.[9]
Also in 2012 she released the single “Gemma Ray Sings Sparks" (with Sparks).[10]
In 2013 she released the vinyl-only “fantasy soundtracks” album Down Baby Down, which heavily featured the stylings of Thomas Wydler of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and was Gemma's most free sounding record to date (“Ray is one inspired music machine”****MOJO).
http://gemmaray.tv
CREDITS / SPONSORS
PRESENTED BY: ANNA BILIC
PRODUCER/TALENT BOOKER: CINDI AVENT
VIDEO: TRIFFIN CONSTANTINE
RECORDED/MIXED BY: TAYLOR NELSON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: ANDREW RIOS
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