Photo credit: Jen Rosenstein
’Light Me Up’ came out of frustration and anger,” says the SoCal-based alt-rock RATINOFF (full name: Jay Ratinoff) about his new single out tomorrow, Friday, June 11th. “With everybody spending a lot of time indoors and working and going to school from home, there were a few instances where my neighbors at the time were complaining that my rehearsing during the day was a distraction. It was starting to cause some trouble and that’s where the inspiration for the song came from.”
The first single from his upcoming album LET IT OUT (due out Fall 2021 through CEN / The Orchard), “Light Me Up” taps into the music that Ratinoff absorbed as a child. Inspired by the likes of Joy Division, The Cure and Depeche Mode, the propulsive track bottles up the “eff you” attitude he was directing at his neighbors and infuses it with driving bass and drums, and sinewy synth and guitar lines that highlight his rich baritone. “The song to me is almost like an Anthem of Liberation,” he laughs.
Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now?
R =The Beginning of this project was a very surreal one…It started in the middle of the Pandemic, when I realized that Isolation was part of the bargain for now… I utilized that time to write and to record my demos. I spent the next two months in my home studio in front of the computer, always with a large venti blonde mixto coffee, my headphones, and my instruments… The plan was already at foot, that I would be recording my album in Oklahoma, with the Grammy Nominated Producer Wes Sharon… I remember feeling very vulnerable…Removing the safety net. We recorded and worked on the Album in One Month. I really grew up as a Songwriter and as a Professional working with Wes. I can say that the Album was my ticket to where I am now…However, I couldn’t have done it without the help of my amazing Team that I have working with me, who love this Project as much as I do.
How would you describe the highs and lows of being an artist?
R = The Highs and Lows of being an Artist are always unavoidable… We always learn about the dark side of the music business through other well known established Artists. And I feel safe to say that we have all experienced it… That being said, the important thing is to keep moving forward, and to keep an open mind. What has helped me a lot is to always try new things. I think that people call it ”reinvent yourself”. I definitely have an ego, as everyone does, but I never let it interfere with the Songs. I am there to serve the Songs and my Music, not myself.
What’s a musical guilty pleasure of yours?
R = Ha!, I have no guilty pleasure when it comes to music. I don’t like having prejudice towards music, in saying what is good, and what is bad.
If you like something, you do. Music is definitely an Art Form, but what is also great about it, is that if you feel like just acting silly or singing something that makes nonsense, is also valid in my opinion.
What are some sources of inspiration for you?
R = My main source of Inspiration comes through putting in the work… Definitely, you need to be inspired, but that inspiration has to find you working.
I’ve definitely had musical epiphanies. But they don’t come often. I recently wrote 10 songs in a very short period of time, but luckily I had great inspiration to do that. I describe it as an Angel that came to give me these gifts.
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
R = An Artist that I admire today more than others is SIA. I saw her live in the Oakland Coliseum 4 years ago, and she was unbelievable. 20,000 people were singing and jumping to her songs, and she was in a corner the whole time. Her songs ”Salted Wound”, ”Confetti” , ”Big Girls Cry” and ”Space Between”, are songs that I’ve played on the guitar, and I think ”how did she come up with these melodies?”. Really an amazing Artist.
Favorite activity to blow off some steam?
R = My favorite activity to blow off steam is going out for a walk, or sometimes going to the gym and doing some cycling. I like to always keep busy and in movement, so that’s something that I use towards my benefit. Even working on songs, or just working on demos I have is a great way for me to let it all out. No pun intended for my song ”Light me Up”. haha!
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about
R = My First release was a song called ”Light Me Up”, which is already up and going on youtube, and The latest one is called ”Take Me Away”. Take me away came from a story I created about a girl and boy meeting for the first time. It was really to write, because I visualized a couple driving through tunnels, and the girl being behind the wheel, as the boy would be describing everything that was going on. ”Take me Away” is also on youtube, and the making of the video was also very fun to do.
What are some things you do to deal with anxiety and creative blocks?
R = I think that as a singer/songwriter, you are always going to have a vision of how your songs should sound… I try to break my own boundaries, just by accepting that the purpose of working with the Producer/Musicians, etc, is for the purpose of the Record. It can be a little nerve wracking at times, but there is always a light at the end of the Tunnel.
What’s the future looking like for you?
R = My future is looking very great. I am going to be doing live shows, very soon, with the great DJ DTOX. I am very excited to work with him. I am very much looking forward to seeing how our styles come together.
What inspires your visuals, videos, looks etc?
R = Funny enough, I try not to get too involved in the process of the video and visuals. I like to play as an instrument for the video. Almost obscuring me, and making the song standout more than anything.
What is the most proud moment of your career so far ?
R = My most proudest moment of my musical career has been to be working with CREATIVE ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK, Rey Bee/Dana Gordon, The Syndicate.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
R = To go with my gut.
Where do you think the music and entertainment industry is headed after this past year?
R = I think that we are all very hungry for Live Performances. It has been something that we have all been missing out on. I really hope that I am right about that.
