What lead you to finally make it into a career?

This keyboard, Korg Trinity. I’ve seen it in years before in HK, and tested it out in the store. I found it, sobrang nakaka-aliw. I figured, I’ve been eyeing that keyboard for the longest time, so might as well just get it. When I got that keyboard, I thought I’d try my hand on that. I solicited the help of my friends in the advertising agency, and asked if I could handle some of their accounts, even if I had no prior experience, composing jingles. I just wanted to do something that involved music. Having that keyboard served as a catalyst. I also must have undergone a period of inspiration because when I started writing songs, I couldn’t stop it. The songs just kept coming to me and before I knew it, I already had 10 songs in a span of a few months-with the lyrics, arrangement, and instrumentation.

How did it all lead to the making of your album "Rayyn"?

With this keyboard I have now, I pieced all the songs together that I have in the album and I figured, that was good timing for me to continue the process from the song-writing to the recording, and actually invest in a studio. I’ve had no singing experience. Although it was kind of embarrassing since I’ve never sung before, but there really was no one else. When it was finally done, I was really happy with what I had accomplished so at that point, I thought now that I actually recorded it and it actually sounds decent, I might as well try to get it released, and have it to the public – and who knows?

What was the process of making yourself known like?

I started doing gigs. I started giving the album out to bar owners and they liked the material. I’ve played in Freedom Bar, Watering Hole, Ritual that used to be in St. Francis Square, The Hive Café, etc.

Since I was alone, I had to find other musicians. There would be a change in lineup now and then. After about a year of gigs, we became more confident about the original recording so people were we telling me, "Why not record? Your voice has changed now, and it sounds better, than it was at the beginning." I was a bit hesitant because I didn’t know if I could afford it. But we put together somehow and re-recorded the whole album, all 15 songs, added back-up vocals, and that’s the final CD that came out. I finally finished this recording, but at the same time, we were also working on the packaging.

Where do you get the inspiration to write the songs?

I don’t know. It can’t come from out of nowhere, that’s for sure. I can’t really answer the question because I don’t know why I came up with it, but I can’t explain it. When you write music, and it’s out there, it’s open to anyone’s interpretation, to an individual’s experience, depends on what they’re going through. I’d like to leave it open-ended for everyone. If they like it, then that’s good enough for me. But as to why I wrote it and how I came up with it, maybe that part I can’t explain. I wish I could. I have no formula. A lot of people know me as the fun-loving, sarcastic type. I’m not really the serious person, but when it comes to the music and lyrics, that’s a whole different ballgame. It’s just thoughts when you’re alone, when you’re thinking, in a relaxed state. There were some things inside me that I just had to get out there. Like the line in the movie Finding Forrester that says something like when you write, just write, and don’t analyze any of it until it’s done. Just pour it all out in the pages, just write and write, then when you’re done, that’s when you look at it. That’s exactly how it should be.

What’s it like being an independent artist?

We got an offer from a major label once, but I had hoped that they would have been more supportive but because of the economic climate at that time, I’m assuming they might have thought it would be risky to sign up a new artist. So I went on my own the way as I originally planned. I think it’s the best decision I have made so far. More people are helping me out now. People have just really been so nice and supportive and that’s always a good thing. Then we hooked up with NA Records. A friend introduced me to Gerry Kaimo around March or April of this year. We hit it off really well. Gerry liked the material. At that point I could use all the help with marketing that I could get.

What are your plans for the album?

Right now, I’m working on the promotions. All I’ve been doing in the past month is TV guestings (Breakfast, MTV Lokal, etc.), radio guestings, and as many interviews with magazines.

When all songs were done, we’re talking about marketing, which means mainstream, commercial, radio-friendly, I thought "Hold On" would be the best choice for a carrier single because it has a more pop, commercial sound. But not meaning to say I don’t believe in the other songs. All are very personal, I believe in all of them. Other radio stations are choosing their own songs from the album to play. NU has been playing Solitary. The Hive 100.3 has been playing, Falling Down. 99.5 RT has been playing Feel Free, Faithless. KLite has been playing Feel Free and Hold On.

It’s difficult for indie to make it to the mainstream. What was one moment that you can remember that made you believe you can brave it?

This might sound mababaw, but there was the recent Poveda fair, which we played in. all the bands that played were playing distortion guitars, heavy rock music, screaming…then we come on and we’re more laid back than the other bands. So we just went out there and did our thing, and when I got down from the stage, these Poveda students came to us and said, "You were really good." These are the things that make happy, that make me know that I must be doing the right thing.

What makes you album different from the rest of those in the market?

I’m not good at hard sell, I hate hard selling. The most I can hope for is that they’ll give us a chance to listen to our album in the listening booth, or hear our music on the radio, or when they watch the MTV, just to check us out. As far as music goes, if you like the music then you like it, if you don’t then you don’t. It’s that simple. I don’t think music should be hard sell.

What can you say to other aspiring musicians out there?

A lot of local musicians have the same dream I do. They want to produce their own album, or start own label, or find that form of self-expression that they’re looking for. If I could do it, I’m sure they can do. A lot of local musicians have talent, and if they feel that strongly about their talent, I encourage them to come out, organize, call all friends, contacts, think about what you want to do, and just do it. You can talk about it all you want but at the end of the day, there’s really nothing like just doing it. Get the job done.

For more on Rayyn (gig schedules, contact information, etc.), you can log on to www.rayyn.com or email him at info@rayyn.com. His album "Rayyn" is available at Tower Records, Radio City, and M1.