Raya was only seven when her musician father, went back to the nightclub circuit, and brought her with him. There, in Hollywood - the real, sticky Hollywood not the metaphor - she found herself performing for diverse and often difficult crowds. This experience shaped her ability, not only to defend herself with a fork, but to communicate musically, and later influenced her writing. Today, her style is a kaleidoscope of edgy, truthful songwriting, which stems from classic jazz roots.
Now, for several years, the L.A.-born songwriter/vocalist/arranger has been captivating audiences with her own music - a mesmerizing blend of original songs, jazz, pop, rhythm and blues and much more. On the strength of compelling live performances that reveal shades of Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Raitt, The Los Angeles Times called her voice "a pliable, versatile instrument, an effective vehicle for a musical expression that ranges freely." USA Today remarked,” Yarbrough’s gracefully gritty vocals recall a young Joan Osborne.”
Yarbrough has now made her debut on Telarc (Concord) with her self-titled album, “Raya Yarbrough” which embraces the broad sweep of her musical influences. Helping her to bring this album to reality was her producer, guitarist-composer Steve Bartek. (formerly of Oingo Boingo, Orchestrator for Danny Elfman, frequent orchestrator for Jon Brion).
The music on this album, not unlike Yarbrough's life in general, is a multi-faceted prism. As a multiracial race twenty-something, she sees the parallels between having a diverse background, and creating equally diverse music. Raya grew up in a context of cultural and artistic dualities, so rather than link herself with one particular genre, she'd just as soon be Raya Yarbrough, the songwriter.
"I don't choose to identify solely with jazz or solely with pop. While jazz may be my root, both genres are me," she says. "If you're on stage and you're being real, the audience will know. If you have an inkling of who you are and what your direction is, you just have to follow that.”
Raya’s original songs have also been featured on televisions shows including Girlfriends and Sci-Fi Channel’s hit Battlestar Galactica. As a studio singer, Raya has recorded and performed with many major acts, including the re-formed Oingo Boingo, and appearing on Neil Young’s ground-breaking album Living With War.
Also check out more about my life and times at:http://smallville.wikia.com/wiki/Raya
Amazing the things one goes through to be a musician
Raya talks about her debut release
Raya Yarbrough EPK Video
