August 2, 2021 • 13 mins
Michael Ray is a man on a mission, announcing his new seven-track EP, ‘Higher Education.’
On the heels of his new music, Michael dropped in with Cody Alan on the Cody Cast podcast to air out his dirty laundry, talk about a new level of crowd energy, and share his favorite advice from Charlie Daniels.
PLUS: Michael shares his favorite candle scent, and everyone agrees!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Podcasting from Welcome to Cody Ellen's podcast. Michael Ray, what's up, buddy?
How you doing? Oh? Good man? Doing my uh getting
back to the routine of being home for a day, laundry, repack,
and leave again. So yeah, I didn't think about that.
You do have to win you're off the road, sort
(00:21):
of do like laundry in that limited amount of time
you have and then get back to it, right. Yeah. Yeah.
Thank god for air pods because then you can you
you can still answer the you know, the questions coming
from management or anybody else and everything that's going on
while you're you know, they're like, what the heck are
you doing. I'm like, I'm on it. I'm a I'm
a man on a mission here, I got I am
time crunched, I got things I gotta do, right Yeah, yeah,
(00:44):
I have a pile downstairs when you're done, if you
wouldn't mind coming over and doing Funny that is I
hate most is folding laundry. Well, you know what's funny is,
if you think about it, it's not the Laundry Act
because it's not like we're back in the day, like
old school, like real you're just shoving it with a
big wooden shovel, you know, like getting all that in there.
We literally just have machines. It's the beginning and the
(01:06):
end that we hate. And as and as men, we've
we've completely went away from the first. We're like, that
won't bleed over too bad, you know, they'll just store that.
It's the folding now that we hate. We have machines.
It's the easiest it's ever been. And we're just like, no,
I don't want to I will hire anybody, come do it. Yes,
I thought about that, like hiring someone, but I always
feel like I don't want someone touch in my clothes,
(01:27):
like my undies, you know that don't touch that file. Anyway,
it's good to chat with you. I appreciate you making time.
I know you're, like you said, out of the road again,
which is like crazy awesome. I'm sure right. It's, man,
the energy from these crowds. I don't even know if
I really know how to explain it. Man, I mean
(01:47):
it is, it's it just feels so good to be back,
and to be back with this type of just just
open arms from both sides and from every where, you know,
I said, and I've heard it from other artists as
well that are back. I've talked to him, you know,
friends of mine there. I'm like, man, are just it's
something different and they're like yes. I'm like okay, because
(02:10):
I feel it too, and it's it's just been incredible, man.
And and then through it all, you know, you just
honestly realized why we why we all fell in love
with it. You know. It's like, right that first time
on stage, man, weird. I'll be honestly, I was nervous
for the first time and for I don't even know
how long, Norman, I'm just excited and ready to go,
(02:30):
but I was nervous, and then we got on stage
and it was just like, oh, yeah, this is why
we do this, you know, and it was and it's
just been incredible. Man, it's been awesome. I forget who
told me this, but one of the artists I recently
interviewed said he was surprised or she was surprised that, uh,
people aren't using their phones as much like they're occupied
by their phones, are actually living in the moment and
(02:50):
enjoying the show. And man, I would agree with that.
We and we played we played a place and and
Hot Springs, Arkansas, this water park theme part there, and
this just nasty storm came in on mean black clouds,
just dark rain poured that to evacuate the park, right, well,
the park was you know, the tickets to park as
(03:11):
a ticket to the show, so I had to evacuating.
But well, then finally cleared up and as many people
that could get in and do you know, and and
come back came back. And even in that moment when
you know, it wasn't the size crowd that was supposed
to be there, let's just say the people that were
there and me and the band walls off and I
was like, dude, that felt like everybody was here, Like
(03:32):
I mean, it's it was just like a fraction of
what was supposed to be there. And we've been having
these sold out shows and you know, big crowds, and
we're like, all right, you know, hey, let's give this.
Charlie Daniel said, you ain't playing for the thousand I
didn't show up. You're playing for the ten that did
you know? And so and so I was like, that's
what we're living by, Charlie on this one man, let's
go out. And we came out and did it was
just like we I mean, we felt we were playing
(03:54):
an arena and people just the energy was also and
I agree a lot of people a lot there's a
lot less like Selff. I mean, people have their phones
out once in a while for their favorite song or whatever,
but not not nowhere near how Yeah. Yeah, I think
people just want to live now, and I think we've
all appreciated what living really means. Um. And by the way,
your story about the rain bridges perfectly into whiskey and
(04:15):
rain falling down, falling down. Um, I know it's got
a little bit of uh, it's Gary Allen vibes. I
think you told me once before, um, what were what
were you thinking the first time you heard the song?
Did you think, oh, man, I could do that, or
that's a Gary Allen song? Maybe I should say what
did you think? Man? You know, this whole record, we
were all I already had been meeting with my team
(04:37):
and kind of just had in my my mind of
where I wanted to go with this record. I think
a lot of downtime during quarantine, a lot of changes
for everybody, really made you kind of reflect on things
that you have done. You know, um, where what have
you done? What you all wanted? What you've always wanted
to do if this was the end, you know, And
so um, I knew that I wanted to really touch
(04:58):
more based on on on my influences and and really
make a record that I feel from front to back
I can get to somebody if they wanted to know
who who I was, or you know, or or or
my best work yet. And and so when I first
heard it was funny because a lot of times, you know,
you we hear the songs or the songs get sent
to us, the artists or whatever to say yes or no. Well,
(05:20):
my manager put this song on hold. And I've been
writing and stuff and we just weren't really feeling that
right thing yet. And as soon as she sent it
to me, Um, she just said, hey, I put this
on hold. I'm telling you this is that, this is
what we've been looking for. And and it and it was, man,
because it did tie and first and of course, dude,
I mean Gary Island was one of my favorite artists
of all time, right, so I down everything he ever did.
(05:41):
So of course at first of Bound Phone Bound from Bar,
I was like, man, this thing this makes me feel
like old school Gary and it has that Baker's Field
sound to it has little Ronnie Mills Stap eighties feel
to it. I'm like, this is perfect. I really felt
it was like a great introduction of this record for fans.
But um, and also you know, it makes me halfy
that people hear that influence because, um, you know, I
(06:04):
just always like tipping the half to the to the
people that made us want to pick up a guitar
move to Nashville, and now no one's really doing a
lot of that sound. I mean, Gary does have a
new album. Have you heard that, by the way, It's
a great album. Oh absolutely, I heard it. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
I got right away. It's nice to have him back.
And also really good that you're sort of like embracing
that sound as well, because I think it's been missing.
You also have a Brittany song, Just the Way I Am.
(06:26):
You just release tell us about that song. This song
Just what I Am is who I am. I feel
like it's who I was raised around. It's it's who I'm,
It's who my fans are, you know, It's it's just
it's kind of just that song. That's that. Here's to
everybody that is probably realizing a lot of us have
probably in this last year were being ruled ourselves who
(06:48):
we really are and those changes that you make to
try to fit in or try to try to avoid
this or whatever really don't mean nothing. Be God made
one of you, you know, God made one, code, you
got made one, Michael got made one. Whomever be you be,
who be who you are, you know, and be unapologetically
that and uh and it's and it's a fun song, man,
(07:09):
It's just you know, there's there's some fun lyrics in
there and it's just just a fun song that that
that adds so much to the to the show. But
also I just you know, like I said, it's just
a little tip of some of the adds to the
people that are are living the way they want to. Yeah,
I love the best is that we're not all bad,
We're not all good, right, we're uniquely ourselves. Ye. What
(07:32):
would you say, by the way, is your the worst habit?
How long is this interview? Um? Um? I would probably
have to say, um, this is this is a habit
of my mind that I don't do often, but when
I do it, like I did Copenhagen, Wintergreen, and there's
times where like I go a long time without it,
(07:52):
but then if I go to Florida, if I fish,
if I'm on a long drive and it's like this
trigger man and I can't beat it. Dude, it's bigger
than me. And so I'm like anytime I'm anytime I'm
on a long drive or whatever, so like long bus,
even if I'm not driving. I don't know what it is,
but those little moments and anybody listening, I know that
there's a lot of fellas, uh, and some ladies that
(08:13):
are probably understanding where I'm at on that. So I
didn't say from my worst habit. Um, so let's go
to the EP. It's gonna be out in August. It's
called higher education, So um why call it that? First
of all, I think, uh, well, higher education is something
that um, I've I've invited a few friends on too
(08:34):
to be a part of it with me. Um, that'll
be that'll be announced when the when the EP comes out.
But higher education is it's just about you know, through
life you learn things, and sometimes you have to learn
it through going a different route. Sometimes it's harder. Sometimes
you know, everybody's past different and um, and you know
(08:54):
I didn't go to college. I moved to Nashville, was
playing bars in my hometown. So a lot of my
education came from you know, more of the hard, hard
hard knocks of lifetime. School of hard knocks. Yeah, school
of hard knocks exactly. Yeah, more than more than college.
So and now there's either either way. Aren't bad in
either way, but it's just it's just that, you know,
(09:15):
everybody has their own journey and I got mine from
from that, and you know, sometimes I just gotta you
gotta realize that and and and and take ownership of
and just go, okay, hey, this is the path I'm on.
This apparently is how I learned better. I don't know how,
but I don't know why, but this is this is
this is something. So if you were to um, like
pursue a college degree, what what might your major? B
(09:37):
Have you ever thought like, okay, if I go into college,
because I've thought about this, I also like pursue a
passion and radio. And you know, I'm the guy who
checks the box that s that's some college application. So
I've got some college. But I realized, like what I
wanted to do, you know, was what I needed to
do and not be bogged out in school. For me,
(09:59):
that was what where I was, and it's it worked out.
But and I'm lucky, but you also have gotten lucky
by pursuing your passion. But if you were to go
back to school, what would you study. I've always thought
I'd want to go back. So I thought about this too,
because my main thing not going to college, and my
parents saw that that was just gonna be a very
expensive debt for them. So I think they man moved
(10:20):
to Nashville for everybody. Um, And so I did think
about it the other day, and I think I want
to do some sort of like because I love you know,
I was raised around first responders and always loved that
life and and and that that world. And so I
always thought to do something like was it what's it is?
The crimpstick science? Whether they call it criminal criminal yeah,
(10:41):
criminal justice or criminal criminal justice? Yeah yeah, yeah, I'll
probably do something like that. So you want to be
like an investigator? Um? I think so? Yeah, alright, I
was picturing you in a police uniform and um, and
I probably will picture that for the rest of the day. Now,
thank you for that visual. I have a little stripper
(11:02):
fantasy coming to mind. Uh all right, let's go through
Michael Ray's day Rays day here. Um, first first thing
you do in the morning, first thing you do in
the morning, first thing I'm doing the morning before I
get up. I just always said, God, thank for day.
Let me do better yesterday, and I did yesterday. Um.
(11:23):
A typical fast food stop. If you're giving yourself a
little break because I know you're a fitting sky you
let you work out a bunch. But if you just
want to go, uh, you know, have a guilty pleasure food.
What is it? Man, It's either it's it's chicksil a
first number one with nuggets. Favorite room in your house
again in a typical Michael Ray day when you're not
(11:44):
doing laundry. Obviously not the laundry room, um man. Probably uh,
probably my patio. Man. I like being outside, especially now
since it's getting warmer and you know, now we're back
on the road. So it's just just good to sit
out there and chill. I picture the bus a little
bit like maybe there's some candles lit, and so what's
like a favorite candle scent. I'm about to tell you
(12:07):
right now, man, I'm about to blow your my mahogany
teak would high intensity from my piece at White Barn.
Oh wow, I see I love the mahogany teak would
so they got a high intensity version high intensity. They
figured away they like what they put out, and then
they read that the questionnaire and went, we need more,
and so they just made a little more high intensity
for everybody. I don't love my nose. Can take those
(12:29):
a room. It's a high intensity. You're a one candle
of every other room. And this one, I promise you
you she works alright, Michael Ray, appreciate the call. New
songs out just the way I am right now, and
of course the new Project Higher Education out on August.
Thank you, Michael, Thanks many thanks for listening to Cody cast.
(12:51):
Follow Cody right now at Cody Allen on Twitter, Instagram,
and Facebook. Care Cody on hundreds of radio stations every day,
and watch Cody on twenty This again Saturday and Sunday
at n a m. Eight Central on CMT. Bye for
nowh
Podcasting from Welcome to Cody Ellen's podcast. Michael Ray, what's up, buddy?
How you doing? Oh? Good man? Doing my uh getting
back to the routine of being home for a day, laundry, repack,
and leave again. So yeah, I didn't think about that.
You do have to win you're off the road, sort
(00:21):
of do like laundry in that limited amount of time
you have and then get back to it, right. Yeah. Yeah.
Thank god for air pods because then you can you
you can still answer the you know, the questions coming
from management or anybody else and everything that's going on
while you're you know, they're like, what the heck are
you doing. I'm like, I'm on it. I'm a I'm
a man on a mission here, I got I am
time crunched, I got things I gotta do, right Yeah, yeah,
(00:44):
I have a pile downstairs when you're done, if you
wouldn't mind coming over and doing Funny that is I
hate most is folding laundry. Well, you know what's funny is,
if you think about it, it's not the Laundry Act
because it's not like we're back in the day, like
old school, like real you're just shoving it with a
big wooden shovel, you know, like getting all that in there.
We literally just have machines. It's the beginning and the
(01:06):
end that we hate. And as and as men, we've
we've completely went away from the first. We're like, that
won't bleed over too bad, you know, they'll just store that.
It's the folding now that we hate. We have machines.
It's the easiest it's ever been. And we're just like, no,
I don't want to I will hire anybody, come do it. Yes,
I thought about that, like hiring someone, but I always
feel like I don't want someone touch in my clothes,
(01:27):
like my undies, you know that don't touch that file. Anyway,
it's good to chat with you. I appreciate you making time.
I know you're, like you said, out of the road again,
which is like crazy awesome. I'm sure right. It's, man,
the energy from these crowds. I don't even know if
I really know how to explain it. Man, I mean
(01:47):
it is, it's it just feels so good to be back,
and to be back with this type of just just
open arms from both sides and from every where, you know,
I said, and I've heard it from other artists as
well that are back. I've talked to him, you know,
friends of mine there. I'm like, man, are just it's
something different and they're like yes. I'm like okay, because
(02:10):
I feel it too, and it's it's just been incredible, man.
And and then through it all, you know, you just
honestly realized why we why we all fell in love
with it. You know. It's like, right that first time
on stage, man, weird. I'll be honestly, I was nervous
for the first time and for I don't even know
how long, Norman, I'm just excited and ready to go,
(02:30):
but I was nervous, and then we got on stage
and it was just like, oh, yeah, this is why
we do this, you know, and it was and it's
just been incredible. Man, it's been awesome. I forget who
told me this, but one of the artists I recently
interviewed said he was surprised or she was surprised that, uh,
people aren't using their phones as much like they're occupied
by their phones, are actually living in the moment and
(02:50):
enjoying the show. And man, I would agree with that.
We and we played we played a place and and
Hot Springs, Arkansas, this water park theme part there, and
this just nasty storm came in on mean black clouds,
just dark rain poured that to evacuate the park, right, well,
the park was you know, the tickets to park as
(03:11):
a ticket to the show, so I had to evacuating.
But well, then finally cleared up and as many people
that could get in and do you know, and and
come back came back. And even in that moment when
you know, it wasn't the size crowd that was supposed
to be there, let's just say the people that were
there and me and the band walls off and I
was like, dude, that felt like everybody was here, Like
(03:32):
I mean, it's it was just like a fraction of
what was supposed to be there. And we've been having
these sold out shows and you know, big crowds, and
we're like, all right, you know, hey, let's give this.
Charlie Daniel said, you ain't playing for the thousand I
didn't show up. You're playing for the ten that did
you know? And so and so I was like, that's
what we're living by, Charlie on this one man, let's
go out. And we came out and did it was
just like we I mean, we felt we were playing
(03:54):
an arena and people just the energy was also and
I agree a lot of people a lot there's a
lot less like Selff. I mean, people have their phones
out once in a while for their favorite song or whatever,
but not not nowhere near how Yeah. Yeah, I think
people just want to live now, and I think we've
all appreciated what living really means. Um. And by the way,
your story about the rain bridges perfectly into whiskey and
(04:15):
rain falling down, falling down. Um, I know it's got
a little bit of uh, it's Gary Allen vibes. I
think you told me once before, um, what were what
were you thinking the first time you heard the song?
Did you think, oh, man, I could do that, or
that's a Gary Allen song? Maybe I should say what
did you think? Man? You know, this whole record, we
were all I already had been meeting with my team
(04:37):
and kind of just had in my my mind of
where I wanted to go with this record. I think
a lot of downtime during quarantine, a lot of changes
for everybody, really made you kind of reflect on things
that you have done. You know, um, where what have
you done? What you all wanted? What you've always wanted
to do if this was the end, you know, And
so um, I knew that I wanted to really touch
(04:58):
more based on on on my influences and and really
make a record that I feel from front to back
I can get to somebody if they wanted to know
who who I was, or you know, or or or
my best work yet. And and so when I first
heard it was funny because a lot of times, you know,
you we hear the songs or the songs get sent
to us, the artists or whatever to say yes or no. Well,
(05:20):
my manager put this song on hold. And I've been
writing and stuff and we just weren't really feeling that
right thing yet. And as soon as she sent it
to me, Um, she just said, hey, I put this
on hold. I'm telling you this is that, this is
what we've been looking for. And and it and it was, man,
because it did tie and first and of course, dude,
I mean Gary Island was one of my favorite artists
of all time, right, so I down everything he ever did.
(05:41):
So of course at first of Bound Phone Bound from Bar,
I was like, man, this thing this makes me feel
like old school Gary and it has that Baker's Field
sound to it has little Ronnie Mills Stap eighties feel
to it. I'm like, this is perfect. I really felt
it was like a great introduction of this record for fans.
But um, and also you know, it makes me halfy
that people hear that influence because, um, you know, I
(06:04):
just always like tipping the half to the to the
people that made us want to pick up a guitar
move to Nashville, and now no one's really doing a
lot of that sound. I mean, Gary does have a
new album. Have you heard that, by the way, It's
a great album. Oh absolutely, I heard it. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
I got right away. It's nice to have him back.
And also really good that you're sort of like embracing
that sound as well, because I think it's been missing.
You also have a Brittany song, Just the Way I Am.
(06:26):
You just release tell us about that song. This song
Just what I Am is who I am. I feel
like it's who I was raised around. It's it's who I'm,
It's who my fans are, you know, It's it's just
it's kind of just that song. That's that. Here's to
everybody that is probably realizing a lot of us have
probably in this last year were being ruled ourselves who
(06:48):
we really are and those changes that you make to
try to fit in or try to try to avoid
this or whatever really don't mean nothing. Be God made
one of you, you know, God made one, code, you
got made one, Michael got made one. Whomever be you be,
who be who you are, you know, and be unapologetically
that and uh and it's and it's a fun song, man,
(07:09):
It's just you know, there's there's some fun lyrics in
there and it's just just a fun song that that
that adds so much to the to the show. But
also I just you know, like I said, it's just
a little tip of some of the adds to the
people that are are living the way they want to. Yeah,
I love the best is that we're not all bad,
We're not all good, right, we're uniquely ourselves. Ye. What
(07:32):
would you say, by the way, is your the worst habit?
How long is this interview? Um? Um? I would probably
have to say, um, this is this is a habit
of my mind that I don't do often, but when
I do it, like I did Copenhagen, Wintergreen, and there's
times where like I go a long time without it,
(07:52):
but then if I go to Florida, if I fish,
if I'm on a long drive and it's like this
trigger man and I can't beat it. Dude, it's bigger
than me. And so I'm like anytime I'm anytime I'm
on a long drive or whatever, so like long bus,
even if I'm not driving. I don't know what it is,
but those little moments and anybody listening, I know that
there's a lot of fellas, uh, and some ladies that
(08:13):
are probably understanding where I'm at on that. So I
didn't say from my worst habit. Um, so let's go
to the EP. It's gonna be out in August. It's
called higher education, So um why call it that? First
of all, I think, uh, well, higher education is something
that um, I've I've invited a few friends on too
(08:34):
to be a part of it with me. Um, that'll
be that'll be announced when the when the EP comes out.
But higher education is it's just about you know, through
life you learn things, and sometimes you have to learn
it through going a different route. Sometimes it's harder. Sometimes
you know, everybody's past different and um, and you know
(08:54):
I didn't go to college. I moved to Nashville, was
playing bars in my hometown. So a lot of my
education came from you know, more of the hard, hard
hard knocks of lifetime. School of hard knocks. Yeah, school
of hard knocks exactly. Yeah, more than more than college.
So and now there's either either way. Aren't bad in
either way, but it's just it's just that, you know,
(09:15):
everybody has their own journey and I got mine from
from that, and you know, sometimes I just gotta you
gotta realize that and and and and take ownership of
and just go, okay, hey, this is the path I'm on.
This apparently is how I learned better. I don't know how,
but I don't know why, but this is this is
this is something. So if you were to um, like
pursue a college degree, what what might your major? B
(09:37):
Have you ever thought like, okay, if I go into college,
because I've thought about this, I also like pursue a
passion and radio. And you know, I'm the guy who
checks the box that s that's some college application. So
I've got some college. But I realized, like what I
wanted to do, you know, was what I needed to
do and not be bogged out in school. For me,
(09:59):
that was what where I was, and it's it worked out.
But and I'm lucky, but you also have gotten lucky
by pursuing your passion. But if you were to go
back to school, what would you study. I've always thought
I'd want to go back. So I thought about this too,
because my main thing not going to college, and my
parents saw that that was just gonna be a very
expensive debt for them. So I think they man moved
(10:20):
to Nashville for everybody. Um, And so I did think
about it the other day, and I think I want
to do some sort of like because I love you know,
I was raised around first responders and always loved that
life and and and that that world. And so I
always thought to do something like was it what's it is?
The crimpstick science? Whether they call it criminal criminal yeah,
(10:41):
criminal justice or criminal criminal justice? Yeah yeah, yeah, I'll
probably do something like that. So you want to be
like an investigator? Um? I think so? Yeah, alright, I
was picturing you in a police uniform and um, and
I probably will picture that for the rest of the day. Now,
thank you for that visual. I have a little stripper
(11:02):
fantasy coming to mind. Uh all right, let's go through
Michael Ray's day Rays day here. Um, first first thing
you do in the morning, first thing you do in
the morning, first thing I'm doing the morning before I
get up. I just always said, God, thank for day.
Let me do better yesterday, and I did yesterday. Um.
(11:23):
A typical fast food stop. If you're giving yourself a
little break because I know you're a fitting sky you
let you work out a bunch. But if you just
want to go, uh, you know, have a guilty pleasure food.
What is it? Man, It's either it's it's chicksil a
first number one with nuggets. Favorite room in your house
again in a typical Michael Ray day when you're not
(11:44):
doing laundry. Obviously not the laundry room, um man. Probably uh,
probably my patio. Man. I like being outside, especially now
since it's getting warmer and you know, now we're back
on the road. So it's just just good to sit
out there and chill. I picture the bus a little
bit like maybe there's some candles lit, and so what's
like a favorite candle scent. I'm about to tell you
(12:07):
right now, man, I'm about to blow your my mahogany
teak would high intensity from my piece at White Barn.
Oh wow, I see I love the mahogany teak would
so they got a high intensity version high intensity. They
figured away they like what they put out, and then
they read that the questionnaire and went, we need more,
and so they just made a little more high intensity
for everybody. I don't love my nose. Can take those
(12:29):
a room. It's a high intensity. You're a one candle
of every other room. And this one, I promise you
you she works alright, Michael Ray, appreciate the call. New
songs out just the way I am right now, and
of course the new Project Higher Education out on August.
Thank you, Michael, Thanks many thanks for listening to Cody cast.
(12:51):
Follow Cody right now at Cody Allen on Twitter, Instagram,
and Facebook. Care Cody on hundreds of radio stations every day,
and watch Cody on twenty This again Saturday and Sunday
at n a m. Eight Central on CMT. Bye for
nowh
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