Many songwriters become skilled at one type of genre or one method of songwriting. They hone their craft over time and gradually curate their specific sound. Other musicians stray outside of genre—and even music itself—because what they have to say is further-encompassing. For these artists, art is the vehicle for their expression and the terrain they travel is constantly changing.

Jeremy Ray lies squarely in the latter camp. Beyond being a skilled songwriter and musician, he’s made a name for himself as a go-to illustrator and painter. Perhaps you’ve watched Matt Jarrard of Book Club performing on a custom Ray-painted cello or come across one of Ray’s trademark “Love the South Hate Racists” shirts or stickers. Or maybe you’ve seen one of his murals or other public art works while strolling around Atlanta. Not to mention the countless show posters and band t-shirts he’s been responsible for over the years. “Prolific” is a word that’s often misused, but in Ray’s case, the creative output is undeniable.

His latest musical venture, Jeremy Ray & the Howdy Men, hits all the high marks that any raucous rock song should. There’s guitar feedback, saxophone solos, fist-bumping rhythm, and the undeniable urge to roll your windows down. Joined by members of Pony League and Less Than Jake, “The Woods” is an energetic and fierce gift that’s tied together by Ray’s signature belted croon. Indeed, “The Woods” barrels straight out of the Stone Pony and into your heart.

Recorded in the fall of 2019, the track’s simple plea for a carefree weekend rings especially pure considering the collective trauma unleashed by the pandemic. Despite the social unrest and COVID lockdowns, Ray managed to undergo tremendous personal change, becoming both a husband and a father. True to his tenacity, he makes it a point to celebrate his personal triumphs in order to shut out the gloom.

“‘The Woods’ has been around for a long time, longer than most of my songs,” Ray explains on Bandcamp. “I wrote this one back in 2015 after my then-girlfriend [now wife] and I took a road trip to a campsite in Hendersonville, North Carolina called the Woodds. The place was cool, despite spelling their name wrong. It was a great trip, but sadly the spot was short lived and only stayed open for about a year. This is why I never wrote love songs.”

In the end, however, the song’s central message is about embracing love and the good times that come with it. According to Ray, it’s the first and only love song he’ll ever need to write. “When life is good, it’s okay to accept it,” he says. “Turn the radio up, roll the windows down and hit the road baby. I’m not saying anything new here, I’m just singing my version of what it felt like to be free and in love.”

Listen below.

“The Woods” is the first single from Jeremy Ray & the Howdy Men’s forthcoming debut, Above the Wreckage.

Jeremy Ray & the Howdy Men will perform Fri., May 6 at the EARL alongside Reconciler, Five Hundred Bucks, and New Junk City. Doors open at 8 p.m. Admission is $12 in advance or $14 DOS. 21+ to enter.

More Info
Bandcamp: jeremyrayis.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @JeremyRayArtandMusic
Instagram: @jeremyrayis
Twitter: @jeremyrayis