"where all the souls of our mothers had to go"
Look throughout America's history, during the most tumultuous periods of our troubled past when the "others" in our society as identified by those in power have been summarily pushed down, marginalized, cheated, beaten, lynched or made to simply disappear, it has been protest music that has arisen as both a weapon and a form of empathetic catharsis. Sometimes the songs are dressed up in dark poetry like Strange Fruit performed (most notably) by Billie Holiday who courageously recorded this incredibly painful protest (in 1939) against American racism and, specifically, the lynching of African Americans and sometimes the songs are a more straight forward like Joan Baez's anti-Vietnam War song, Saigon Bride, released in 1967.
Often time, the protest weapon of choice is an acoustic guitar and an inspired voice and Raye Zaragoza continues the tradition. Her song 2017 In The River written as a direct response to the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in North Dakota felt like the natural thing to do for this progressive artist and fighter. Her latest, Fight Like A Girl, calls out to her familial roots and those directly responsible for inspiring Zaragoza to use her art to carry important messages and to be a source of inspiration herself. The track swings in an indie folk way with chamber pop flourishes which might seem a bit celebratory for a protest song but engaging the right demographic is part of the battle. Zaragoza sings, "Grandma nature, mother moon... show me what to do. They are taking our rights away.... policing our bodies" she brings to bear how history unfortunately repeats all too often when it comes to injustice.
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:
Raye Zaragoza (pronounced ray zay-rah-GO-zah) is an award-winning singer-songwriter who carries an acoustic guitar and a message. Her quiet yet powerful song “In the River,” written in response to the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in North Dakota, garnered half a million video views, national media coverage, and a Global Music Award and Honesty Oscar. Her forthcoming sophomore LP recorded with Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, First Aid Kit) will be released in 2020.
Writing about social issues comes naturally to Raye. "As a woman of color in America, social issues are things you deal with and see every day of your life," she says. "I write about my experience and oftentimes my existence has been laced with injustice."
Raye’s debut album, Fight For You (independent, 2017), displays her compassion, dedication to justice and equality for all, and keen eye for the seemingly small daily moments that become our most meaningful memories. About the record, Raye says, “This album is about finding yourself and finding your voice. It’s about maturing and realizing that you can make a difference if you so choose.”
Raye performs her music all over the United States and Europe. Her music has been featured on Billboard, Popmatters, Earmilk, Democracy Now! and on numerous lists of the best modern-day protest songs, including those by Paste Magazine, What Culture, and Overblown. She has also performed live sessions for Paste, Daytrotter, and FNX.
Raye has spoken on panels at Bonnaroo and SXSW on topics ranging from preventing sexual violence to engaging her fanbase as an independent artist. She has toured in support of Dispatch, Nahko and Medicine for the People, Kiefer Sutherland, William Elliott Whitmore, Dar Williams, Donovan Woods, and many more.
"Speaking truth to power, Raye Zaragoza is a voice made for our times." - PopMatters
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