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2010/08/24 Music and Concert Review: The LoneRaynger...the Vokal Mechanik!

There is much to be said about the undiscovered South African music scene and every once in a while, a shining star pops up, from the darkness with something unique, unheard of and lambasted in an energy that is undeniable of greatness.

That shining star is 'The LoneRayner'.

Ray Connell is 'The LoneRaynger' or better yet, a vocal mechanic (vokal mechanik as he so eloquently puts it). Stringing together a series of beat-boxing techniques, looping electronic sounds, both pure and distorted and a cacophony of electric and acoustic guitar sounds which are all fused together by his rich vocal talent.

The man is a genius. The end.

'The LoneRaynger' Press Kit

>>> Check out his 'Press Kit' Video (above) <<<

Ray has been called a lot of things in his life as a musician: Beat-boxer, Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist, Live-Looper and a One-man band...he has the ability to do it all - and all at the same time nevertheless - his ability to adlib his creations as he goes is something only Ray would be able to explain which confirms that if this musician were to play the same sound 50 times over, each one would sounds different to the next. Every song is an experience and musical journey that Ray makes up as he goes. Granted the man does follow a certain formula when performing, but his talent lies in the real time interweaving of sound, voice, instrument and beat literally as the song progresses!

Accomplishments:

LoneRaynger has opened the stage for Redwood, Real-Estate Agents, The Dirty Skirts, Steve Newman, The Beams and many more...

He won the South African ‘Vocal-Wars’ 2006.

Additionally, he came second/runner up at the South African Hip Hop Indaba beat-box battle 2006.

At Splashy Fen 2006 he opened the Grant Erskine stage on both days, and made the final round of the ‘battle of the bands’ competition.

He was also one of the new members of the multi-talented, diverse, and up and coming crew, “The Grime Council” when he lived in the mother city...which he misses incredibly muchly. “I very quickly lost interest beatboxing in Hip-Hop battles, and branched off in attempt to create my own genre. My style of beat boxing/vocal percussion uses a different technique of kick release, nasally dominated as opposed to the typical ‘mouthing’ techniques. This had pro’s and cons. Cons – it was initially harder to mic up as there was significantly less air being released on the kicks, and it was hard to get the levels of the vocals right if I was doing a beat at the same time. The pro’s – doing a break beat, a bass line an lyrics at the same time became a serious option without compromising integrity of lyrics." - LoneRaynger BIO

(Quoted directly from the LoneRaynger Facebook Fan Page)

ZAGlamour Goodness:

What we'll being attempting to do is follow this incredible artist on his tour of Canada --- oh wait, did we not mention that? --- Well, this muso has been given the opportunity to Tour Canada, jumping from one muscial event to the other all the while taking in the sights, sounds and goodness that Canada has got to offer! Ray's Tour has been sponsored by the company he currently works for, AquaOnline, a rocking South African Digital Media and Advertising Agency who in fact are running a 'Transmedia Campaign' and will be following him every step of the way - documenting and publishing everything from his blog, Flickr Feed, YouTube videos, Facebook updating and Fan Page all in the professional style that AquaOnline have become known for!

We, at ZAGlamour, will attempt to keep up to the pace of this flitting artist as he tours Canada and will do our best to bring you some of his rocking content from across the ocean.