Wasting Words

"By day, I was a cop, and by night, I was playing country music in all the honky-tonks. And so, everyone always knew that I would lean to that side, and it was more than just a hobby for me."

 (Frank Ray / connectsavannah.com, Mai 3, 2023)

Frank Ray's real name is Francisco Gomez. Coming from the state of New Mexico, the name hints at his hispanic roots. Married and a father of 3 daughters, the 36-year old artist has gained his share of life experiences. Not the least because he served for 10 years as an officer at the Las Cruces Police Department. In 2017 he eventually decided to quit and let his passion for music guide him to a potential music career.

Already the very same year he self-released his first EP with 6 songs and the indicative title of "Different Kind of Country". An intended ambiguity which not only refers to his musical stylings, but which also talks about the issues hispanic immigrants face in a different country.

2021 he got signed by the BBR Music Group on their label Stoney Creek Records and the release of the first song by the name of 'Streetlights' helped Frank Ray gain first attention on a nationl level. By incorporting spanish language and touches of latin elements it became a first calling card for his sound, which was intended to set him apart from the rest. Or as Rolling Stone Country described it already in 2017: Easygoing contemporary country with pop-soul hooks and a dash of Southwestern spice.

With a catchiness made for radio, the follow-up song and his first official radio single 'Country'd Look Good on You' climbed all the way to number 17 on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart last year. Not bad for an introductory single!

It's a little doubtful however whether current single 'Somebody Else's Whiskey' will be able to follow suit as it has barely reached number 49 on the radio chart after 12 weeks. Obviously trying to play it safe, the song sounds like so many other commercial radio songs - it even has the word Whiskey in it's title. However the lyrics written by Frank Ray, Derek George and producer Frank Rogers, do hold an unexptected surprise. Because while it does talk about a breaking relationship, it expresses relief about it and the fact, that she will finally annoy somebody else - including drink his whiskey.

The song is included on the debut-album of Frank Ray by the same name, which got released on July 7 of this year. It contains 15 tracks, on 13 of which he was a co-writer. In his own words he describes the project as: "... traditional-country sounding stuff, you go into the latin vibes, you get the more pop-soul hooks, you got the family-oriented stuff , you got the party songs, you got the sad songs, it's got everything."

While the sad ballads and the big family themes are actually missing on the album, it however does radiate cheerfulness while mostly zooming in on the topic of love. Sonically it stays true to his initial musical path by building radio-friendly and catchy country tunes and mixing some of them with latin elements. Like Frank Ray does for instance on 'Wasting Your Words', which simmers with steamy passion from far below the border line. Stop wasting words, there is no doubt where all of this will lead tonight.

His voice also shines with the only track on the project which comes close to a sad ballad: 'Spring Break'. It's title mixes heartbreak and spring break and the almost upbeat sounding production belies the longing and disappointment of a love lost. But only to return with an infectious beat full of summertime grooves from down south on the next song 'Let It Drop'.

The album closes with one of only 2 songs, that Frank Ray did not co-write. Yet it is perfectly able to describe the sound of the likeable newcomer, by confirming: That's what happens when you party with strangers - you leave with friends!