Columbus singer Ray Jones' song 'Tell Somebody' getting airplay
It’s fortunate that Ray Jones has a name that’s easy to remember because you’ll be hearing it if you tune into WNCI (97.9 FM).
And it’s a bonus that the Columbus native’s new single is titled “Tell Somebody” because that’s what you’ll want to do when you hear it.
When Jones landed an opening spot in the iHeart Acoustic Summer Series — a collaboration between Experience Columbus and iHeartMedia — it opened a door to getting his voice out to the public.
“I got introduced to one of the executives at WNCI and we became sort of fast friends. He really liked the music and he liked that I had a team working with me that had credibility and experience. This has been a team sport,” said Jones, 38.
“Ultimately, I think the sound works for WNCI and they believe I have more to come.”
Normally, stations in the CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio or Top 40) format are the least likely to play unsigned artists, said Michael McCoy, senior vice president of programming for iHeartMedia.
"But I have found over the years that there is some great music originating in Columbus, Ohio. One of the ways we can stand out as a radio station, both locally and nationally, is to embrace local artists," he said.
McCoy praised the distinct sound of "Tell Somebody," which he said could work in Jones' favor. "It’s not typical of what’s on the air right now, which can be a very good attribute when listeners, labels and radio stations are looking for a variety of sounds.
"The production value, song structure and overall feel of the song makes Ray stand out from a lot of other music that comes across my desk. It’s better than some major label efforts, in my opinion," he said.
Hearing the peppy groove and positive message of “Tell Somebody” wafting over the airwaves for the first time felt “otherworldly” for Jones.
“To be able to get onto WNCI and be in Columbus, not New York or LA, is sort of bucking the trend. It feels really good to be able to do that,” he said.
“It’s one small step, but it’s an opportunity to scale that into something. It’s a testament to what could be done on a national or global scale.”
McCoy concurred: "Ray has the drive, focus and talent to get a shot. A quick listen to his EP will back that up."
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While Jones certainly hopes to be successful and make a name for himself, he’s not chasing fame and adoration. Instead, he seeks community and connection with his audience — the kind of synergy he felt at his three-song iHeart set Aug. 21 at Land-Grant Brewing Company.
“The energy there was full of Columbus' unique love for music … (the) crowd was there to fully listen and experience the artists, which I think is always meaningful for everyone involved,” Jones said.
“It was so touching to hear people's reactions after the show, especially to hear that my performance and lyrics resonated with listeners. Music that uplifts people and brings us together is my mission, so to hear about those kinds of impacts in person, after a show, is really meaningful to me.”
'Music was a gift from the universe'
Like many artists, Jones’ love for music dates back to childhood, to parents who loved music, to thrice-weekly church services filled with music, to gifts of musical instruments for Christmas.
“I was raised on gospel and soul — Kirk Franklin, The Temptations, Otis Redding, The Stylistics. Then I got into pop and hip-hop in middle school, then country in high school because it’s pretty fascinating to write visual stories through song,” he said.
“In college, I got into more singer-songwriter-guitar stuff — John Mayer, Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson — really, the whole gamut."
Jones started creating his own songs during his freshman year as an economics major at Stanford University, where his friends would goof around with a piano in their dorm.
“One of my friends knew how to play and we were just being playful, but I felt like I was relying on people who knew how to play to make music. That semester, I asked my parents for a guitar for Christmas,” he said.
“I went to college being very interested in business. Music was just like this gift from the universe. I had no idea it was going to enter my life like it did.”
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However, Jones wasn’t interested in studying music, he wanted to create and play. So, after college, he threw himself headlong into the shark-infested waters of the music industry to sink or swim.
“I started my career playing in Malibu, of all places. I moved to LA sort of on a whim to test out the market for me and my talents,” he said.
“I was lucky to play with a band up and down the coast of Malibu, playing Americana, classic rock and my originals. It was crazy to be able to play in front of people like Bob Dylan, Creedence Clearwater Revival and other legends that lived in Malibu.”
As exhilarating and enlightening as the experience was, it wasn’t Jones’ permanent scene.
“I had an interest in coming back to my roots and having that be the gravity center for music I created,” said the soft-spoken musician, who also has played with reggae, folk, hip-hop and funk bands.
'I'm a student as much as a creator'
Getting airplay for "Tell Somebody" is quite a feat, but Jones isn't resting on his laurels. Knowing the music business is not an easy one; he'll continue to promote the single, create new material and develop himself not only as an artist, but as a person.
"I have been really happy that the message resonated with people. I want to continue to promote and share the song and hope that this would afford me the opportunity to promote and share the next song, then an album of songs, then a show," he said.
"I'm excited about sharing new music and getting feedback from listeners and from those who are experts in analyzing and creating music. I am a student as much as I am a creator.
"I want to put my best foot forward, which means getting feedback and continuing to build confidence in myself. I'm also still building out my muscle in understanding the quality required to be compelling and have the kind of impact I want to have."
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Jones said he'd love to open for bigger artists and learn from the experience, though he knows such gigs can be hard to land. But his end game isn't international rock-star status.
"It's never been about fame," he said. "I'm shy and don't like promoting myself. I haven't even been on social media in years!"
Channeling other artists
Jones changed his tune about social media with the recent launch of his own YouTube channel, on which he plans to analyze songs and performances by popular artists.
His first installment, posted Aug. 22 at youtube.com/watch?v=UjJCDpn2lHs, grew out of a two-week earworm: "Birds of a Feather" by Billie Eilish. Jones examines the young singer's performance of the hit at the 2024 Olympics closing ceremony, breaking down the lyrics to find the emotion behind them.
"It's a morbid but upbeat song. 'Romeo and Juliet' was one of the most famous stories that exists, let alone love stories. To do it in a contemporary way is very unique. It's very cliché to say, 'I'll love you 'til the day that I die,' but it's literal in this case," he said, quoting the Eilish song.
"The fact that it's about sibling love is a testament to when we feel something, there's really something beautiful we can produce."
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus musician Ray Jones' song 'Tell Somebody' lands radio spot
