Spread the Social Love:
Goldray is Reef guitarist Kenwyn House, Leah Rasmussen and Faithless drummer Andy Treacey. With that sort of line up, you expect something rather special to be created between the threesome in terms of music. Goldray was born from when Leah and Kenwyn met, and decided to put their creative talents together to fashion together a new blend of psych and prog experimental arrangements.
We got the chance to ask a few questions to this brand spanking new musical experience, and we talk Olympics, new singles, gigs and what the story is beind chosing 'Goldray' as a name.
AltSounds: Hey guys how are you?
Leah: Really good! Been locked in doors recording. It's easier recording indoors now it's raining again. We don't feel like we were missing all the parties, barbies and fun out there, but hey we'll make up for it after the albums finished!
AltSounds: What have you been up to over the past few days?
Kenwyn: We've been recording and just played a gig at The Godney Gathering festival Had a day out in Knoll park where we shot our video, amazing place!
AltSounds: Ah right, sounds good! So, what’s the story behind the name Goldray?
Leah: We'll I found out that Gold is a crystaline substance that kings and queens of old used to ingest in liquid to use for healing and balance. That inspired the name, I love the colour as well!
AltSounds: Wow, that's interesting. You’ve stated that you guys are a “soulful, haunting dream like vocal, slipping sensuously through the maelstrom, with all the emotive power of The Cocteau Twins and Bjork to PJ Harvey and Patti Smith.” What about you makes you sound like elements of these?
Kenwyn: We didn't actually say those things. That's how someone else described us and we kind of thought that was probably the best way we had heard to give a complete stranger to our music a clue of what we sound like.
Why those influences? Well we have an etheric quality and a female vocal ..but also have a powerful guitar driven thing too.
AltSounds: Fair enough dude. What’s been the most inspirational decade for music, in your opinion?
Kenwyn: 1965-1975 was the first real wave of freedom that hit the planet. That era was the musical equivalent of the renaiisance of the 1500s ...instead of leonardo and Michael Angelo we had john lennon and Jimi Hendrix instead.
AltSounds: It was seriously a massive decade, I agree totally. Are you guys excited about the Olympics or not so fussed?
Kenwyn: I love what it should stand for, the athletes are amazing... However it appears that now it's a corporate feeding frenzy freeloading on the back of great tradition. The fact it's only McDonald's and Coke available there makes it mockery of what its really meant to be about ...I don't watch TV so all their advertising spend is totally wasted on me.
AltSounds: Haha too much emphasis has been on the corrporate in my opinion. You’ve got a new single out called ‘Don’t Walk Away’, who were you asking to not walk away?
Leah: Yourself from yourself
AltSounds: Erm... OK then. What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to walk away from?
Kenwyn: A 3rd helping of pudding at xmas dinner
Leah: Glastonbury festival 2010, it was hot sunny and the vibe was amazing. To see everyone together on a high like that really showed me how things are when we're free to be ourselves. So many of the artist said really positive amazing things, everyone was on a real buzz that year!
AltSounds: What’s the most exciting new band you’ve come across recently?
Leah and Kenwyn: We like The Citizens...The not so new Smoke fairies, Tame impala and love Cate Le Bon, she's a great songwriter and got a great sound!
AltSounds: Have you got any cheeky gigs coming up or festival appearances at all?
Kenwyn: Yes we have some gigs being booked as we speak in Bristol, Bath, Swindon, Guildford and London coming up. We've not wanted to book too much in before end November as we're concentrating on finishing our first album at the mo. We have some interesting possibilities in the pipeline as far as touring with a couple of big name bands over the winter tho.
AltSounds: You’ve got a bit of a cool image, do you think the visual aspect of a show is important in music?
Leah: For us it is yes think it is because clothes are an expression of who you are. Fashion when played with from a place that's not based on consumerism but from a place of freedom is Art. Also when you go to see a live band it can be more fulfilling to hit all the senses with both audio and visual. I love watching bands that put their heart and soul into it and take me on a journey.
AltSounds: What could we expect from a Goldray gig?
Leah: A band putting their heart and soul into it and hopefully taking you on a journey!
AltSounds: Thank you for answering these for us.
Leah and Kenwyn: Thanks for having us!
We got the chance to ask a few questions to this brand spanking new musical experience, and we talk Olympics, new singles, gigs and what the story is beind chosing 'Goldray' as a name.
WATCH // 'How Does it Feel'
AltSounds: Hey guys how are you?
Leah: Really good! Been locked in doors recording. It's easier recording indoors now it's raining again. We don't feel like we were missing all the parties, barbies and fun out there, but hey we'll make up for it after the albums finished!
AltSounds: What have you been up to over the past few days?
Kenwyn: We've been recording and just played a gig at The Godney Gathering festival Had a day out in Knoll park where we shot our video, amazing place!
AltSounds: Ah right, sounds good! So, what’s the story behind the name Goldray?
Leah: We'll I found out that Gold is a crystaline substance that kings and queens of old used to ingest in liquid to use for healing and balance. That inspired the name, I love the colour as well!
AltSounds: Wow, that's interesting. You’ve stated that you guys are a “soulful, haunting dream like vocal, slipping sensuously through the maelstrom, with all the emotive power of The Cocteau Twins and Bjork to PJ Harvey and Patti Smith.” What about you makes you sound like elements of these?
Kenwyn: We didn't actually say those things. That's how someone else described us and we kind of thought that was probably the best way we had heard to give a complete stranger to our music a clue of what we sound like.
Why those influences? Well we have an etheric quality and a female vocal ..but also have a powerful guitar driven thing too.
AltSounds: Fair enough dude. What’s been the most inspirational decade for music, in your opinion?
Kenwyn: 1965-1975 was the first real wave of freedom that hit the planet. That era was the musical equivalent of the renaiisance of the 1500s ...instead of leonardo and Michael Angelo we had john lennon and Jimi Hendrix instead.
AltSounds: It was seriously a massive decade, I agree totally. Are you guys excited about the Olympics or not so fussed?
Kenwyn: I love what it should stand for, the athletes are amazing... However it appears that now it's a corporate feeding frenzy freeloading on the back of great tradition. The fact it's only McDonald's and Coke available there makes it mockery of what its really meant to be about ...I don't watch TV so all their advertising spend is totally wasted on me.
AltSounds: Haha too much emphasis has been on the corrporate in my opinion. You’ve got a new single out called ‘Don’t Walk Away’, who were you asking to not walk away?
Leah: Yourself from yourself
WATCH // 'Don't Walk Away'
AltSounds: Erm... OK then. What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to walk away from?
Kenwyn: A 3rd helping of pudding at xmas dinner
Leah: Glastonbury festival 2010, it was hot sunny and the vibe was amazing. To see everyone together on a high like that really showed me how things are when we're free to be ourselves. So many of the artist said really positive amazing things, everyone was on a real buzz that year!
AltSounds: What’s the most exciting new band you’ve come across recently?
Leah and Kenwyn: We like The Citizens...The not so new Smoke fairies, Tame impala and love Cate Le Bon, she's a great songwriter and got a great sound!
AltSounds: Have you got any cheeky gigs coming up or festival appearances at all?
Kenwyn: Yes we have some gigs being booked as we speak in Bristol, Bath, Swindon, Guildford and London coming up. We've not wanted to book too much in before end November as we're concentrating on finishing our first album at the mo. We have some interesting possibilities in the pipeline as far as touring with a couple of big name bands over the winter tho.
AltSounds: You’ve got a bit of a cool image, do you think the visual aspect of a show is important in music?
Leah: For us it is yes think it is because clothes are an expression of who you are. Fashion when played with from a place that's not based on consumerism but from a place of freedom is Art. Also when you go to see a live band it can be more fulfilling to hit all the senses with both audio and visual. I love watching bands that put their heart and soul into it and take me on a journey.
AltSounds: What could we expect from a Goldray gig?
Leah: A band putting their heart and soul into it and hopefully taking you on a journey!
AltSounds: Thank you for answering these for us.
Leah and Kenwyn: Thanks for having us!
![Review: Killswitch Engage – Disarm The Descent [Album]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/altthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fhangout.altsounds.com%2Fgeek%2Fgars%2Fimages%2F1%2F2%2F8%2F3%2F8%2Fkillswitchengagedisarmthedescentcover.jpg&h=75&w=75&zc=1&q=70)
![Review: Press To Meco - Affinity [EP]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/altthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fhangout.altsounds.com%2Fgeek%2Fgars%2Fimages%2F2%2F6%2F3%2F2%2F9%2Fpress_to_meco.jpeg&h=75&w=75&zc=1&q=70)
