Even she did not know she was this country.
Singer-songwriter Reney Ray, born and raised in Kapuskasing, didn’t think she was considered quite ‘country enough’ for her Country Music Association of Ontario nomination, but she isn’t one to argue.
Ray has been nominated for a 2019 CMA Award in the Francophone Artist of the Year category.
Ray says the nomination is an honour but also quite a surprise considering she has country in her music, but in her opinion, just a hint. She considers her music to be somewhat country-folk, but more often than not she will tell people that she is a folk singer.
However, even Ray can admit that she listened to a lot of country from a young age as she grew up, which has played a big part in her ability to tell stories through her lyrics, so there is most certainly an influence within her music.
Ray says the nomination is most certainly an honour and surprise.
“Like I play alot of country in cover songs and I love country, I really love country, but I never noticed it was apparent that much in what I do actually. So I’m really stunned, I’m honoured that artist of the year for that is amazing.”
She says her self-titled album Reney Ray will involve a lot of stories about her life, the ups and the downs.
“Stories about everyday life, trials and tribulations and alot of hope actually because, what I think it’s mostly like everything that I write about is alot of things that I’ve either been through or reflections that I’ve had.”
She also wanted to take the time to thank her friends and family back home in Kapuskasing, for their love and support, and for all of the kindness that has been shown to her through social media and through the voting that is ongoing for the CMA Awards.
