Debo Ray on SoundBetter

Grammy-nominated vocalist, vocal arranger, vocal producer

Grammy-nominated musician and Berklee College of Music Professor, Debo Ray is a leading vocalist in Boston and New York’s elite jazz and world music circles. A composer at heart, Debo is best recognized for the unique way she embraces and expresses the music she creates. This style – of blending theory with emotion in her performances – is what drove Débo to create a name for herself.

She is a spirited and cooperative collaborator, having shared stages with multiple Grammy award winners such as Bobby McFerrin, Esperanza Spalding, Antonio Sanchez, and Terri Lyne Carrington. Débo has performed on stages like Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Newport Jazz Festival, in addition to traveling regularly on international tours.

Debo Ray finds it her mission to spread the joy of music without compromising skill and musical nuance. And as part of that mission, she aims to create a sound that feels both relatable and universal.

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Credits

AllMusic verified credits for Debo Ray

Nicola Conte
Gianluca Petrella
Nicola Conte
Gianluca Petrella
Terri Lyne Carrington
Terri Lyne Carrington & Social Science
Terri Lyne Carrington
Terri Lyne Carrington & Social Science
Terri Lyne Carrington
Terri Lyne Carrington & Social Science
Banda Magda

Languages

English
French
Japanese

3 Reviews

Endorse Debo Ray

by Les 29's
Verified
Debo was just perfect ! We had a crushed timeline and she delivered on time, everything sounded great, pitch, tone, we needed a gospel vibe and she was right on point. We asked for a little adjustment and she did it in no time. Very pleased with her work and recommend her highly.
by Nicholas C.
Verified
Debo was both the consummate professional and a super talented, agile and inventive vocal artist. Whether improvising or sticking to a tight brief, each take was rich and exact. She felt entirely committed to the project for the time we were working together and was full of ideas and enthusiasm whilst remaining very respectful. I would recommend to anyone: jump at the opportunity to work with Debo.
by Colin Lester Fleming
I have been working with Debo for almost 5 years and she has been a total pro the whole time, in every sense of the word. She brings such a unique voice and energy to each project that I have worked with her on and has always excelled at working with her clients to achieve, develop, and execute their vision. Her communication is always quick and on point, she is always on time with deadlines, and always exceeded every expectation - not to mention she has an unbelievable voice and talent as a songwriter, session vocalist, and vocal arranger. 10/10!

Interview with Debo Ray

Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Working on the sophomore album to the Grammy-nominated album "Waiting Game" with Terri Lyne Carrington, teaching students all over the globe, and performing anywhere COVID-protocols allows!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Depends on the instrument. Best of both worlds, baby!
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love being able to translate emotion into songs, and how it makes both me and my clients feel!
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Mic, Amp, Keyboard, Camera, Router :)
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been professionally singing for about 14 years. I've been a session vocalist for about 10 years, starting during my time at Berklee College of Music
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Eclectic, Ecentetric, Vocal Expansiveness!
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Pre-production makes all the difference in a session. Any materials that are necessary to make the session run smoother, as well as any notes to make the performance the best it could be, are GOLDEN.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: These days, lots of RnB, Jazz, Rock, Metal, and World Folk music. (Yeah, I'm eclectic, I know :P)
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Besides being able to sing in any style, probably vocal arranging. I LOVE stacking vocals together to make a lush soundscape, whether it's all my voice, or a bunch of peoples.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Emotion, personality, and technique.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: 1. The client tells me what they're looking for, passing along any demos, soundalikes, or sheet music. 2. I take a couple hours to learn the song, or to have a conversation with the client to get more information. 3. We set up a remote recording time. 4. We record, with everything subject to the client approval. 5. I bounce the files, and send them! In the event that the client isn't present for the recording, I typically perform a demo and then have two rounds of edits so clients can get the exact sound they want.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I've got an SM7B to Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, going into my Macbook Pro which runs Logic Pro. Since I usually have live remote sessions, I use zoom to have my clients present, and audiomovers so they can hear the sound in high fidelity.