Debut album is Music For Life
Elvis Presley, Metallica and Kiss are among the artists which have helped mould Ray Bishop’s love for music.
But it’s the musical style of reggae legend Bob Marley which has had the biggest influence over the former Tokoroa man’s career as a singer.
‘‘It’s his vision of a better world, his lyrics and the musical grooves. It’s really shaped the way I’ve approached my songs and they way I perform.’’
It’s perhaps a flavour you can detect when listening to Bishop’s debut solo album, Music For Life, which he’s just released featuring 10 original tracks.
Te Reo Tuatahi is the lead track, a song which reminds people that Maori is the first language of the land.
‘‘The waiata speaks about how important dialect is to each iwi, to each person.
‘‘It speaks about how every school, every whanau in every home should nurture the language, that it is a chance to learn and look after a resource, a treasure.’’
The other songs on the album touch on similar themes, including one written about papatuanuku (mother earth), another about the role women play in the world and ‘‘how they should be respected’’.
‘‘One of the big driving factors of my original work has been my son Marley. I became a father about six years ago which signalled some big changes in my life.
‘‘It’s prompted me to write a song about him. If you are a dad, you’ll connect with this song.’’
Most of the songs have a reggae flavour to the sound but Bishop has included one dance track as a point of difference.
Bishop was born in Hamilton but grew up in Tokoroa around a musical family which included aunties and uncles who were renowned musicians from around the Waikato.
He went on to establish the Dream Academy in Auckland in the 1990s, helping young people realise career opportunities, using positive role models and music.
He released original songs with reggae band Box Juice but the group disbanded and Bishop went on to look for new challenges.
He had been performing covers around Auckland but in the past year made the decision to seriously pursue a solo career, writing and performing original music.