Ray Coen profile picture

Ray Coen

About Me


CD and DOWNLOADS AVAILABLE FROM CDBABY, DOWNLOADS FROM iTUNES. IF YOU'VE ANY PROBLEM ORDERING OR DOWNLOADING PLEASE CONTACT US - [email protected]
Ray’s musical life began at the age of fourteen when he got hold of his first acoustic guitar. A year or so later he was picking away at an electric guitar inspired by Thin Lizzy, Rory Gallagher and Joe Satriani. At seventeen he was already playing gigs with Bad Taste having fun with songs of the previously mentioned musicians along with material by Slayer and Ozzy Osbourne.
Somewhere along the line he quit playing for a couple of years but was back in 1996 and could be spotted playing fiddle at trad sessions (groups of musicians playing Irish traditional music in pubs). At the same time he played guitar with China Red, a pop/folk band that included his sister Colette on vocals. Never one to worry about mixing his musical styles, Ray went on to record a traditional album with Mactire, an Irish traditional group, as well as with Cadenza, described as a Celtic folk group.
In 2008 Ray was finally persuaded to record his first solo album ‘Out of Sight’ and after a tough year, this was released on May 1st 2009. According to Hotpress magazine the album skirts a number of genres including “pastoral folk picking, gentle country shuffles, Cajun jigs, and choral numbers”. That said it’s musical coherence comes through Ray’s beautiful voice and melodic approach.
There are plenty videos on this site (search through the blog to find more) and you can listen to recorded tracks on the player above (it even ‘pops out’ so you can listen while working on your computer). Most of all enjoy!

Ray Coen’s ‘Out Of Sight’ "a work of understated songwriting genius"

"A HEART WARMING EXPERIENCE, A VOICE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN GIFTED BY MOTHER NATURE, RAY COEN IS A NAME THAT DESERVES TO BE HEARD FROM COAST TO COAST"
Review by Martin McCool – Music Reviews (Donegal/Sligo/Dublin/Wexford)
"beautifully recorded" "beautifully judged string, guitar, brass and vocal arrangements" "music that is very happy in it's own skin" HOT PRESS
Recorded recently in Dublin, this is another version of 'Empty Words' from Ray and Colette.
CHECK OUT THE BLOGS FOR MORE VIDEOS

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 29/07/2008
Band Website: None at present. Contact at: [email protected]
Band Members:

Ray Coen - Guitar & Vocals, Colette Coen - Vocals


Influences: Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Elvis, Michael Coleman, Joe Satriani, Andy Irvine, Paul Brady, Slayer, The Bothy Band, Thin Lizzy, Steely Dan, Django Reinhardt, Did I mention Elvis?, Josie McDermott, Planxty, Camaron de la isla, Radio Tarifa, Juan Manuel Serrat, Frank Zappa, Billy Joel, Megadeth, Doobie Brothers,Martin Simpson, Frank Sinatra, Thom Moore, Pearl Jam, Tom Waits, Sweeneys Men, Tommy Scanlon, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Iron Maiden,Rodney Lancashire, Paul Simon, Michael Jackson,Ian Bordley Bob Marley, Seamus Tansey,U2,Izzy Stradlin, Beatles, Colette Coen, all the deadly crazy musicians around Sligo

Sounds Like:

Tender poetry in an acoustic setting from someone who has been both on life’s mountain–tops and wandered its deepest, darkest valleys. A heartwarming experience and a chance to savour life’s beauty and delicacy from a mystic songwriter and intricate guitar player.

RAY SOUNDS LIKE THIS - MOST OF THE TIME

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR_dliKiPNU
Record Label: Unsigned

My Blog

Ray Coen - 'along the lines of time'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhhjGReGAH0 Thanks to everyone at the gig last saturday. It was a great night. Thanks for all the support.
Posted by on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:42:00 GMT

Marty McCool's Review (Edited Version)

Ray Coens Out Of Sight "a work of understated songwriting genius" Issuing forth from Yeats country with all the poetry of the Sligo countryside, Out Of Sight, the superb debut album from si...
Posted by on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:55:00 GMT

INTERNET HOLIDAYS

ok, so we haven't put much (anything!) up on the internet in the past four weeks and now it's coming up to holiday time ... so there will be another gap.... BUT we hope to start a regular (weekly) vid...
Posted by on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:13:00 GMT

State of Civilization Blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR_dliKiPNU
Posted by on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:15:00 GMT

Ray Coen - live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKJyTc7iCuo Some clips from a recent show. Have a good bank holiday weekend!
Posted by on Fri, 29 May 2009 03:51:00 GMT

Ray Coen and Colette Coen live with 'Voices from the Fridge' and 'No C...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPY0imXMp3c As promised ... clips from last Saturday's gig featuring 'Voices from the Fridge' choir (the quote at the start is from 'Killing Me Softly ...
Posted by on Fri, 22 May 2009 01:31:00 GMT

Snippets from rehearsals prior to cd launch in Stanford's

Rehearsals with Colette and 'No Crows' These are just snippets of Empty Words and Elizabeth from before the gig. Recorded as usual on a little sony digital camera - hope you like the r...
Posted by on Sun, 17 May 2009 17:18:00 GMT

InSights - Reflections - CDs - Guitars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGbBMGm4Wtc Ray plays 'Reflections...
Posted by on Tue, 05 May 2009 00:20:00 GMT

'Out of Sight'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViX1S5VjQFc CDs just in ..... available at gigs now......more details on Bank Holiday Monday ...... late 9 or 10pm ish
Posted by on Sat, 02 May 2009 10:23:00 GMT

RAY COEN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUxrDLA0oSI Recorded recently in Dublin, this is another version of 'Empty Words' from Ray and Colette. The presenter, Tom Millet, men...
Posted by on Fri, 01 May 2009 22:34:00 GMT