Narrow Interview - Raye Zaragoza

The Narrow Interview... with Raye Zaragoza

When Narrow picked Raye Zaragoza as one of the “must see performers” of the 2019 Sing Out Loud Festival, we noted that she was sort of a modern-day Joan Baez. Writing music that touches on social justice, she began reaching a larger audience in 2016 with a song protesting the Dakota Pipeline, titled “In The River.” With her father being of Mexican and Native American heritage, it meant even more to Zaragoza. That song won the 2017 Global Music Awards “Heretic Award” for Activist Music, and the Honesty Oscars Award for “Best Song.”

Zaragoza is back in our area for a third time, supporting Rising Appalachia on January 16th at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. Narrow had a chance to talk to Raye while on her current tour, to learn a little more about this exciting new performer.

Narrow: You performed again in St. Augustine (Sing Out Loud Festival), after writing “Warrior” and mentioning the city. What are your latest feelings about St Augustine and the First Coast, as you’ll be performing a few miles north in Ponte Vedra Beach?

RZ: Yes! I love St. Augustine. It’s such a beautiful place with so much history. It’s funny, I think Dispatch (who I played my first show in St. Augustine with) also mentions St. Augustine in a lyric. It’s a beautiful place, but also an incredibly melodic city name. Haha! We songwriters love beautiful melodic words. I am so excited to be coming back to the area to play Ponte Vedra Beach. I felt so much love at Sing Out Loud Festival, and I’m excited to visit all of my supporters in the area!

N: We were excited to see you included in the NYC John Lennon Tribute featuring Natalie Merchant and a few people the Narrow staff has come into contact with (Rachel Yamagata, Willie Nile) in our NJ/NYC days. How did this come about?

RZ: Yes, it was honestly one of the best nights of my life. It was such a blast. I felt so lucky to be in such incredible company. Hanging out in the dressing room with Rachael Yamagata, Natalie Merchant, Nikki Richards, and Joan Osborne was pretty wild. I was super nervous performing alongside them but it was so much fun. That was really all thanks to my agent! He’s a champion and always seems to get me in some amazing performance opportunities.

N: During Sing Out Loud Festival in September, you joined a favorite of ours, Dave Hause, on stage. Was this spontaneous, or did you know Dave previously?

RZ: Dave is so awesome!! And that was so fun. And completely spontaneous. Shared green rooms are always the best for putting together last minute collaborations. Dave was rehearsing with his band when I came in, and then he asked if I wanted to sing. My answer to that questions is always yes. Haha. It was great. Dave and I hadn’t met previously but have now become buds!

N: Any surprises you can spill about your forthcoming 2020 album release?

RZ: The release date is still unclear but It’s all happening! A surprise I can spill? A new version of "Warrior" with a full band (and strings) will be on the record! So St. Augustine will have their shout out on the new album!!

N: Anything you’d like to say to our readers about your Ponte Vedra Beach show on January 16 w/Rising Appalachia?

RZ: Hey Everyone! I can’t wait to see you there! I will be playing lots of new songs! Say hi to me after my set! :)