Whatever I’m in the Mood For

by Lori Burns

In 2016, Ragan Rae checked an essential item off the bucket list when she performed for the first time at the famous Bluebird Café in Nashville in front of a sold-out crowd. Since that night, Ragan has had the privilege to perform there more times, a stage that has hosted artists like Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, Garth Brooks and, other singer/songwriters who still “pop-up” there from time to time. At 23 years of age, Ragan, a native Tennessean, melds

10 | Good Fat Life her sultry, Motown sounds giving listeners her genuine emotions, vulnerability, and a reality that we can all relate to. I sat down to talk about her music-making process, her influences, and things that are coming up for her.

Ragan, Have you always wanted to be in the music business? Yeah, since I was six years old. My dad was always on the road with the artists and, I would go and see him, and if it weren’t for him having that job, I would not be who I am or do what I am doing today because that so influenced me.

If you could collaborate with any musician, who would it be and why? Who inspired you to make music? Other than my dad, I would have to say, Springsteen, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, people like that because that is who my dad listened to.

How would you describe the type of music that you typically create? It’s all over the place, its literally on whatever I’m feeling that day. We can go super- Americana country on a song, or we can go Motown with a brass band, it’s whatever I’m in the mood for.

What is your creative process like? So, sometimes it’s me at a piano or guitar by myself, or if I have a heavy heart, I’ll write what I can get out in 30 minutes if that’s what I feel I need to do. Or if I know I have a co-write the day before, I’ll just come up with the first chorus. When the songs are done, I bring them to my producer Jake, and we collaborate to make the final track. Sometimes we bring additional instruments in, like horns or whatever to add to the tracks.

If you could open a show for any artist, who would it be? Let’s see, that’s a hard one. There are so many. Probably Fleetwood Mac. Yup. That’s it.

How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business? Well, it has helped in a lot of ways because now artists can have direct communication with their fan base, and you can see more of them. There was always an element of mystery back in the day when you had to go to a store and buy an album. You didn’t know everything about their personal life. I think the mystery is an endearing thing, and we’ve lost that in our industry. I feel like with social media, now everybody knows everything, and it’s just different.

If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be? People would pay for records again! Tell me about your new album? So, the album is very throw-back, very hint to Motown era, because I love the old school sounds, live Marvin Gaye, Tina Turner sounds. So, this specific project is going to be that vibe. It’s a massive project. We have a full strings section in all the songs, brass section, very Motown. Its five songs, all correlated in style. I wrote them all at different times in my life, so some are five years old and some five months old.

Let’s talk about one of your songs, titled “Twenty-Two”. So, this song is a snapshot of a part of my life that was difficult and the only way I could process it was to write about it. One of my parents recently had cancer, and I had to be the sole caretaker because they are divorced. It was just one of those things that I never pictured myself doing at such a young age or without my own family to lean on like a husband, or kids, or whatever that looks like. I think it was just something that caught me off guard because I am so young (I know there are a lot of young people that go through it), but it is an incredibly lonely place, and I was scared, and my inner child was threatened because my parent was ill. I had to really grow up, even though I wasn’t really ready for that, it was a learning curve. I was happy to do it, and I was honored to take care of my parent, it took me off guard though. The song Twenty-Two was written as a result of this time in my life.

What’s next for you, friend? I have writer’s rounds in Nashville quite often, and there’s going to be a single coming out every other month until October when the album is released. I imagine that on the days the singles come out, I’ll have a performance. When the album comes out, I’ll have a full band performance in Nashville and New York City!

Where can readers find out more about you? Instagram, Spotify, apple iTunes, and Facebook

Thanks, you so much Ragan, I am so encouraged that at your tender age of 23 you have defined who you want to be, you have direction, purpose, and an extraordinary commitment to your family. I can’t wait to hear your next song!

Follow Ragan Rae at: Instagram :@ragan_raemusic Facebook: Ragan Rae Spotify Apple iTunes