We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Raeshwan (Awesome Ray Ray) Greene . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Raeshwan below.

Raeshwan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Back in 2014, I had a corporate job with great benefits and great pay. I was somewhat content but I wasn’t happy. I’ve always been involved with music rather it be writing ,singing ,producing, or playing drums. But for quite some time, I hadn’t been able to do that. So one day after work I got on craigslist, and started searching for drum opportunities. I came across this band based out of New York City . They were looking for a temporary drummer. It’s about a 4 Hour drive from Washington DC ,where I’m located, to New York City. I took the chance and I took on two separate gigs with them. The shows went over pretty great, and then shortly after I returned back to my normal life . It was such an exhilarating experience and I needed that so bad. A few months later I was contacted by that same band and I was asked to fill the position on a permanent basis. As bad as I wanted to do that, I also knew that that would involve me giving up a really good job and a really nice house. After consulting with my close friends and family, A wise person told me “if you have dreams and goals to achieve, you have to be available and brave”. So I took the risk. I walked away from my job and left my townhouse, and moved to New York City. Over the next four years I got to travel the country playing small and huge shows, to include arenas. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but I will say it was one of the biggest risks I’d ever taken. I completely left my comfort zone and safety net. There is no tangible amount that I like attach to what I have learned and the people that I met/experiences that I had. It was 100% worth it, and if I had to do it all over again I absolutely would. Sometimes the craziest/scariest thing that we’re afraid of doing everything that we should do in order to achieve what we want.

Raeshwan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Raeshwan Greene, better known as “Awesome Ray Ray”. I’m a professional drummer, multi genre recording artist, entertainer, and supporter/follower of dreams. I started playing drums and getting involved with music around the age of 3. I continued that passion through grade school and into college grade study broadcast journalism and music entertainment. That combined with a background in public safety, has made for an interesting and quite extroverted personality. I have played drums for multiple bands, and have toured all over the country and into a few others. I started my solo career as a rapper/singer and producer in 2018. Obviously my product is music but it’s so much deeper than that. I would even dare to say it’s more of an experience combined with home encouragement, and inspiration. As not only a musician but a fan of music I know how it feels to want to escape from the stresses of life. So it is a constant goal of mine no matter where I am no matter what platform I have and who around to inspire and help people escape for whatever time that I can. I don’t always get it right but I feel like Life is a constant series of adjustments. I’m just simply following my dreams and encouraging others to do the same. I even have that phrase tattooed on my arm.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

In the music and entertainment business everybody always sees big-name bright whites rock stars etc. Even as a kid I was always wide eyed about this business. As I started my journey, even now still early on I had to learn that it’s not always glitz and glam. In fact it’s extremely grueling and challenging. If you want to be successful, and more famous musician and entertainer, you basically have to be crazy and be prepared for cops and doors being slammed in your face, and heartbreak. I had to unlearn what I thought I knew from TV, radio, the Internet. I had to unlearn the fact that I thought I knew it all, and I’m learning to let go of the bad habits of wanting complete and total control. I had to learn that there are people that do have your best interest at heart that have more experience than you, and that it’s OK to trust them with your baby/product/dreams. In some ways I had to lower my expectations and even have no expectations at all. I’m currently learning not to always take it too serious, go with the flow and literally enjoy the moment.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Every day I wake up, I am faced with extreme challenges ,not only in my industry but life in general. As we all know over the last few years the world has been a very crazy place. Life has been turned upside down in different, and unexpected ways. We know the price of everything has virtually skyrocketed. Along with the pandemic, fuel has increased which makes touring very hard. The price of simple merchandising from T-shirts to trinkets have gone up. Global markets have gone absolutely crazy. I’ve even had to sustain and maintain a day job all trying to build and sustain my music and entertainment dreams. And Let’s not forget the mental health aspect which is in my opinion the most important thing to take care throughout this journey. But my passion and resilience runs deep. And anything you love I believe is worth fighting for. So even when it seems like things are unraveling, I stop for a little bit, remember to breathe, gather myself ,take my time, and get right back to it.

I believe this world needs more love and more light, and if I want to make this a better place, I have to start off by being a better me. I think the best way to encourage others Is to encourage yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://poplme.co/0SqmYymE
• Instagram: @awesomeraymusic
• Facebook: Awesome Ray Ray
• Linkedin: Awesome Ray Ray
• Twitter: Awesome_rayray
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgTnQzMe45MSMwBFTVeW8uw

Image Credits
Mary Yeager photography