Eugene weekly., April 13, 2017, Page 13, Image 13

Kris Ray
ARTIST AND
MUSICIAN WITH
NOVELAS
AGE: 27
Artist and musician Kris Ray fronts “melodic hardcore
band” Novelas, which frequently performs at The Boreal.
Novelas is celebrating the release of its latest EP, out now on
cassette and available on Bandcamp.
Novelas’ EP features “South Carolina, God Damn,” part
hardcore-eulogy, part fiery and hugely impactful statement
about the mass shooting perpetrated by Dylann Roof at a
Charleston church.
Ray self-identifies as a “queer, non-binary Afro-Latinx”
and says, “I first got into DIY punk and indie music as a teen
growing up in SoCal. I needed music that validated my struggle
as a femme/person of color, and fast aggressive music gave me
that validation as well as helped me realize the power of my
voice.”
You’re from SoCal. How does Eugene music measure up?
Eugene has an eclectic music scene that I have grown to
love. It’s not as vibrant as the big city scene I’m accustomed
to, but it’s got heart and soul. The only down side is that a lot
of these shows are at bars. I may be well over the drinking age,
but I’m horribly allergic to alcohol.
People need to start leaving the bars and venture to the
shows off the beaten path. You’d be surprised at how many
good shows happen right under our noses in this town.
‘Everyone assumes that there are only
jam bands and hippie/psychedelic bands
to see in this town, and that’s just not true.’
What are some misconceptions about Eugene’s music scene?
Everyone assumes that there are only jam bands and hippie/
psychedelic bands to see in this town, and that’s just not true.
There’s a pretty solid punk and metal scene here.
There are a lot of good bands breaking new ground that
are worth looking out for. A few of them have femme/women
musicians leading the pack. It’s exciting!
While Eugene is growing more diverse, it’s still a pretty
homogenous place. Can you talk a little about diversity issues
in Eugene’s music scene?
A next-level scene in my eyes is more equitable and
inclusive: more space taken up by femmes, queers, people-of-
color and trans folks.
I try to create that space at the beginning of every set my
band plays by making sure those who are marginalized know
that they belong in that space and they deserve to take up just
as much space as any dude in the room.
Music is one of those amazing mediums that bring people
together for a purpose: to move and lift our voices together.
Investing our dollars in local venues and artists is an act of
community that we need to continue to engage in.
Eugene music is hard to pin down. It’s a cross between
raspy buskers on the downtown streets backed by psychedelic
waves of ambient rock n roll. It’s a weird mix for a weird place.
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