Music2Deal: Raylan, please tell us something about you.

Raylan Cooper: Sara, I’d first like to tell you what a fine network Music2Deal has created – it is a first-rate community of music professionals. Well, let me see, I guess I’m just a guy who enjoys life to the fullest, optimist, who always strives to excel at whatever I do.

Music2Deal: How would you describe your music to somebody who has not listened to it yet in three words?

Raylan Cooper: powerful, emotional, inspiring

Music2Deal: Do you remember the first song you ever sang? How did it make you feel?

Raylan Cooper: Oh my, the first song I ever sang was the Genesis tune “Abacab” which for a newly minted singer was quite the challenge with its complex melodic line. This tune is still one of my all-time favorites.

Music2Deal: How did you become involved in the type of music you sing now?

Raylan Cooper: Moving predominately from pure progressive type rock with a twinge of pop to Country Pop, Pop, British Pop, and Jazz is more a reflection of my progression towards a more mainstream sound and the realization that my vocal strengths now reside more in pop than the rock genre. Although, I must admit I’m still a big fan of off-the-wall rock. One tune that I’m working up from back then is Aldo Nova’s “Fantasy” – now that’s an adrenaline rush of pure pleasure.

Music2Deal: What can people expect to see at your live performance?

Raylan Cooper: My live performances are never ever boring! There’s a mix of all genres even a little rock and soul but most of all I never want the fans to feel they know what to expect when they hear me perform. I want them to leave the show with a tingling in their spine a feeling that they’ve just been transported to musical heaven but in a way and with tunes they’d never expect to be combined into a 2 hour set-list.

Music2Deal: You used to be the frontman for the rock group Zillias in the late 80’s. What is the wildest story with the group you can tell us?

Raylan Cooper: Wow! Back then things were a bit wild-west in Miami, Florida. There was one night we were to perform at this upscale progressive type club frequented by very wealthy anything goes patrons of varying unusual backgrounds but just prior to going on stage there was a shoot-out – we just decided to exit quickly out the back. Luckily, we hadn’t had our instruments setup on stage just yet.

Music2Deal: If you could perform with anyone in the world, either dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Raylan Cooper: If I could perform with anyone or essentially any group it would be Duran Duran. Simon Le Bon personifies (the band in general) the avant-garde purely free spirited anything goes stage setting and clear connection with the audience that I strive for with every show.

Listen to Raylans music here.

Interviewed by Sara Shirazi