Interview with Spread Eagle Vocalist Ray West

February 19, 2024

Interview with Spread Eagle Vocalist Ray West

By Mick Michaels

Cosmick View: Hello, Ray! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thanks for taking some time out of your day to speak with us. It's greatly appreciated.

CV: With what seems like music taking a backseat role to the public at large these days, do you feel musical artists are still considered heroes to some? Have artists lost their appeal and impact?

Ray West: For the folks in my generation, music was everything…music was life.

In my opinion, the days of the Rock hero are over. Ever since MTV, and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame watered down the word Rock ‘n’ Roll , we live in the upside down. Especially MTV....“Video really did kill the radio star.”

Nowadays, with social media there is no mystery, the curtain has been pulled back, the rock heroes we used to dig, are now making videos on their social media accounts, and there is no mystery at all….

There are just so many distractions, and so many other things fighting for people’s time and imaginations. When I was a kid, I was all about the mystery of Rock n Roll…Cream Magazine, Hit Parade, etc....

I was a huge Kiss fan…they were larger than life. And today, they are a corporate monster reaping in the cash, and they don’t hide it. I respect the idea of Kiss, but the original lineup doesn’t exist anymore, so that hero worship mindset has faded.

Most music hero’s from the past decades are out grabbing checks and playing everywhere and anywhere they can…clubs, cruises, casinos and anywhere the money and metrics leads them. The bands that had even the lightest rotation on MTV are out touring trying to make a buck.

What’s that Shakespearean term…“The salad days are definitely over.” LOL

It’s all a fame game today w social media, so you get way too much information. So your past heroes are now just regular people vying for attention like everyone else. Look, I don’t care or wanna know what my fave musician had for dinner. I want the mystery back.

The word Rockstar doesn’t mean what it used to.

Nowadays, anyone with a laptop, good software and a good microphone can create their own musical journey, tell their friends their album is dropping and play rockstar.

The curtain has been pulled back. There is simply no mystery anymore. So I find that people now meet you and feel they have an instant relationship because they know all your personal shit. They know you as a person and not some rockstar shit.

CV: Spread Eagle is described as "Pure NYC Street Metal." How would you define that, and what does it mean to you? How does it separate the band from its peers… is it an attitude more than a sound?

RW: It’s both. It’s the energy of New York City that injects the attitude and musical swagger that we have. We carry the NYC vibe with great pride.

What separates Spread Eagle from the pack is we are nowhere near being a hair metal band. If you know our history, music and live show, then you know that is fact.

Spread Eagle songs aren’t cookie cutter. They aren’t written with the intention of sounding like anybody else. There’s a great sense of musicality, arrangements and lyrical swagger to Spread Eagle music.

I truly believe the people that connect with Spread Eagle music are very demanding and they like the fact that we just don’t sound like anybody else. I’ll go as far to say that we’ve always marched to our own beat.

CV: Spread Eagle has been on the road to Rock over the last few years. With all that has changed in the industry and following the events of 2020, has it become a matter of performing where and when you can to keep the machine going?

RW: You hit the nail right on the head. Our resurrection comes from playing every stage and room that is inhabited by people who want to see us and a lot of people who have never seen us before. We play anywhere and everywhere because playing Rock n Roll is a privilege and we do not take that shit for granted.

I tried to answer the question as simply as I could, but of course, I’ve become quite famous for over sharing. LOL

CV: Tell us a little about your new project, SupaFly - The Vibe. What can fans expect or be surprised to find?

RW: I think Supafly shows my vocal versatility, melodic sensibilities, emotional intensity and very cool, almost urban heavy grooves because the producer is badass!!!

Supafly is my truth and soul on a plate.

They can also expect a great live band because I’m all about the live gig.

CV: From your perspective, what's the biggest misconception fans have about being a singer in a Rock 'n Roll band that tours the world? Is it like what so many have been made to believe, or is it more like that meme, depicting everyone sitting around on their cell phones?

RW: I love this question!

The answer is…it’s a bit of both. There are times like when we get to enjoy sightseeing, the sights, sounds and great food. And there are those times when we are posting and just chilling with Netflix and sitting around, feverishly just texting away and corresponding with people.

The stuff people don’t see are things like getting to the airport on time, sitting around busting balls while waiting for flights, the ever joyful security check process. Some airports we travel through have security agents that seem to like to play the sadistic “Let’s fuck with the band” game by taking your things, going through each and every item and asking for the “why”, and seeing how long they can delay you so you have to actually run to catch your gate like you’re OJ running from a murder scene…I meant airport. LOL

Here’s the unglamorous stuff:

lots of trying to sleep in planes trains and automobiles
Finding healthy food options where there are none.
Selfies when you’re looking your most sleep deprived and hideous

I should write a book on this topic but I’ll stop here.

CV: With so many shows and always on the run from city to city, as an artist, how do you avoid and / or overcome burnout...physically and mentally? Is it a regular hurdle to contend with?

RW: This live touring business isn’t for the weak. If you don’t have a great sense of intestinal fortitude, you will fall off to the wayside.

It’s very physically taxing. If you’re not mentally strong and don’t know how to deal with adversity, you will not survive.

You have to be gifted at learning how to do more with less.

CV: What do you feel has been the hardest lesson you've learned being in the Rock 'n Roll business?

RW: I’ve learned the old music business doesn’t exist anymore and there are 1 million new ways the business of Music works today. We are in a new world.

My biggest regret is not learning anything about entertainment law.

I’ve learned when you’re writing a song in a collaborative, always be sure to have a split sheet. Because people will take credit for what is yours if you don’t protect yourself. You will have your voice and lyrics used without your consent…that’s something that happened to me not long ago.

My voice and my lyrics are my value, so I have to take care and protect both. I’ve learned that you don’t sign anything unless a lawyer you trust has gone over it with a fine tooth comb.

In this business, if you let your insecurities get the better of you, you will fail. This is why you have to have very good people around you and stay humble no matter what.

I’ve learned that no matter how much money you have, you can’t buy respect in this business. You have to earn your way by being honest and real with people.

I’ve also learned that if you like opioids more than you should, you will not survive yourself because addiction can come all too quickly and easily.

CV: What more can fans expect to see coming from you in 2024?

RW: I will be connecting with those who support Supafly and Spread Eagle music around the world, playing as many shows as is possible, writing more songs and staying accessible to those who wish me no harm.
CV: Thanks again, Ray, for taking the time to share with our readers. We wish you all the best and continued success.
RW: It was a pleasure. Thank you for having me.

Check out Ray at:

SPREAD EAGLE
Official: https://spreadeagle.us Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spreadeaglenyc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/spreadeaglenyc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spreadeaglenyc

SupaFly Single: I'm Your Boogie Man: https://ada.lnk.to/BoogieMan

SupaFly: Lyric Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ibhWuDEtig

The Cosmick View

Where the stars always shine bright
www.thecosmickview.com
www.facebook.com/TheCosmickView

www.thecosmickvoice.com
www.anchor.fm/the-cosmick-voice

My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.