Powerful Soca Artists Imani Ray:
I first met Imani Ray a little over a year ago. She performed for a group of entrepreneurs seeking to learn from one another via an internet radio show. “A Day in the Life of an Entrepreneur,” and there was Imani.
Imani Ray and Constance Nicole
Slender and sensual, innocent yet worldly, she was a light whirling around the room, singing her silky rhythm and enticing both women and men too, “Say her name.” I had the pleasure of meeting both Imani and her feisty mother and it wasn’t hard to see where she got that fire. Both mother and daughter embraced me with a warm and an openness common not only to Islanders but to New Yorkers too (believe it or not).
I could immediately see strength and purpose. Imani Ray, as her mother called her, is destined to be a household name. I saw her again a few months later dancing in the Caribbean Festival, right down Covington Highway in Decatur, Georgia and I could not help but be impressed by her poise. For one so young, she seems to know herself and her confidence, as colorful as the full dress she danced in, declares her a force to be reckoned with.
We sat down and talked to Imani recently and she graciously answered some questions. Born in Queens, New York, Imani had a dual upbringing. Her mother is from Trinidad and her dad, she says, “Is very much a New Yorker.” After migrating to Georgia when she was about six, Imani matriculated through the Metro Atlanta school system, graduating from Heritage High school and then Rockdale Career Academy. She received a marketing certificate from the state of Georgia upon completion of the marketing career pathway offered by the career academy. She has continued online classes at Georgia Perimeter College, pursuing her career as an International entertainer. She has completed two years thus far and is also a student at Georgia State University studying International Business.
Photo courtesy of Imani & Roxanne James
We asked Imani where she got her love (and talent) for music from. “My great grandfather was very much into music. He was a Calypsonian in Trinidad. He competed in many Calypso competitions and has written for many of the world famous Calypsonians in Trinidad. He wrote his own music as well. Unfortunately, he couldn’t further pursue his music career due to diabetes, which took his life.”
Imani was already an accomplished dancer when she started her musical journey at around sixteen years old, after she lost her father. She was traumatized. “He passed in July, 2011, which would make it five years since I decided I needed something more than dancing…to cope with such a loss.”
When asked, how she would describe her style of music?
So far I’ve been doing Soca music. Soca is feel good music. It’s all about creating good vibes. However; it is not my only focus. I do have the vocal ability to do reggae and pop music which I’m working on for my future projects. I just love to see people have a good time and off their feet. I am a Soprano, yet I train to do backgrounds and harmonizing, bringing a broad range of vocals to my audience. I like a vocal challenge, which includes adding a bit of base to my already raspy sound, with a touch of a natural vibrato from time to time.
What are some of her musical inspirations?
“Watching old videos of Selena, watching videos of Beyonce, Destra (Soca Artst), Machel Montano (Soca Artist), etc. are some of my musical inspirations.”
She noted that she hasn’t started on a complete album at this moment but, she has been focusing on building a catalog of songs and anticipates releasing an EP in fall 2016.
Are you working on any projects now?
I am working on a couple of projects with different producers at this moment. One of the producers includes Optimus Productions TT out of Trinidad and Tobago. I recently had the pleasure of working on a project with TuchPoint Music for I-Octane. My summer release is coming soon, So Free!
Photo courtesy of Roxanne James
How about tours or events planned for 2016?
I don’t have a complete tour coming up at this time but I do have a few performances set up.
Would you like to share what you like to do outside of music?
Outside of music, I like to travel and go on adventures. I like to try different and fun things like paintballing, jet skiing, snorkeling, etc. This is why I have a long bucket list.
We wish Imani well and predict that we’ll be seeing and hearing a lot more about this shooting star!
Her fans can find her on twitter and Instagram @therealimaniray and on Facebook: Imani Ray (http://facebook.com/therealimaniray and Twitter).
Author ~ Connie Spruill