Ray William Roldan

Born in New Jersey and raised on the West Coast. He is known as someone with something to say. Came up listening to Elvis, Johnny Cash, Rick Nelson, Merl Haggart, George Jones and more.Broke Fence has recorded two albums back to back: “In California Country” and “Where We Come From”. Both of which are recieving extensive radio play in the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia. Ray’s songs have shared the bill with such notables as: Tim Mc Graw, Billy Yates, the Bellamy Brothers and others on more than twenty radio compilations in the past two years.

Ray’s songs have qualified as top finalist five times in 2007 and 2008 in the Song of the Year contests. He won 2007 “Top 25 songs/CD” for IndieMusic.com and eleven finalist nominations for his song “Man of Steel” in 2008 through the FameGame Effigy award ceremony.

Ray has a fanbase on MySpace of well over 65,000 friends and has music on 120 similar sites.And the radio stations which have played Ray’s music are too numerous to list.

Q:When you decide it’s time to make a new record, is that more exciting or stressful?

Ans: Finding the time is the only stressful part. I tend to start with

A dozen or so tunes and I write another dozen or so during the recording process. Figuring the order of songs on the CD can be a pain sometimes though.

Q: How do you shut things out?

Ans: when I’m in the studio I’m there to work, so it’s pretty easy to focus.

Q: How easily do songs tend to come to you?

Ans : I’ve always been able to create a space in my mind for words and ideas to flow. I can get 3 or 4 song ideas in a day and then nothing for a month. That’s when I go back and look at the ideas and find the ones that want to be born into something. When I’m writing a song or working out or drawing or building something I tend to get new song ideas like crazy.

Q: What’s your motto or the advice you live by?

Ans: Learn to find the creativity in everything you do and your muse will never let you down.

Q: What is you favorite song to belt out at the bar/in the car?

ANs: Way too many to list. When I was a kid Id go to the local Thrifty drug store and hang out at the magazine rack reading the Hit Parade mags. I’d learn the lyrics to all the latest hits and I still remember the lyrics to hundreds of those songs. Funny thing is I don’t do very many covers as I figure the folks who originally recorded them did the best job and as a writer I don’t want to step on that. ( Though I’m always stoked when someone asks to cover one of my tunes.

Q: For our readers who have never heard your music, explain your sound in 5 words?

Ans: Country Americana Roots Rock storytelling.

Q: You write all of your own music; where do you draw inspiration from when you write songs and what’s your favorite part about the process?

ANS: Sometimes I’ll try and cop a rhythm lick on my guitar and in the process I hear something in what I’m trying to interpret that will be the seed of some idea.

Q: At what age did you start singing?

ANS: 10

Q:Who are your inspirations?

Ans: Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earl, Johnny Cash, Lucinda Williams, Bob Wills, Merl, Willie, Waylin, Elvis, The Beatles, The Eagles, ZZ Top, John Prine, Guy Clark, Buddy Miller, Patsy Cline, T Bone Walker, Muddy, Howlin, Neal Young, Bob Dylan and on and on.

Q: If you could perform with anyone, in the future, who would it have to be?

Ans: Steve Earl

Q:What is your favorite song to sing live?

Ans: Big Skies by Ray William Roldan

Q:Do you have any events coming up or recording going on right now?

Ans: I’m working on a couple of new albums at the moment here in Topanga

Q:Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to sing as a career or just advice about careers in general?

Ans : Dont give up and don’t give in.

Q: If you had a soundtrack to your life what song/songs would have to be on it?

Ans : Crazy, Lucy in the sky and Stair Way To Heaven

Q: Which instruments do you play?

Ans: Acoustic and electric guitar, Dobro, 6 string Banjo, Mando, and Harmonica