Ray is influenced by a concoction of sounds from Classical to Reggaeton. Having lived in East Africa along with various other parts of the world Ray is fascinated by East African Gospel and Bongo Flava. She is intrigued by international music and utilises her travelling experience to create new sounds. Ray is a member of 'Divas on Decks - Ibiza' and 'House of Strings' and recently opened 'Cafe del Mar' in the Dominican Think Vanessa Mae at a rave.
Ray, previously known as Rachel Coyle, had her first Violin lesson at the age of four and could read music before she could read. Under the tutorship of Hugh Roberts Ray competed in annual competitions within Leicestershire until the age of 13. During her first 10 years of playing the violin Ray accumulated a multitude of awards and prizes and was the youngest person to compete in the Hinckley Festival final at the Concordia Theatre. During these years Ray was part of National Orchestras and was the leader of the Leicestershire Junior Orchestra
At the age of 13 Ray was awarded a Music Scholarship to Rugby School where she studied the Violin, Piano, Singing and Organ. Whilst there Ray was a member of all music societies and achieved grade 8 on the Violin, Grade 6 standard on the piano, Grade 7 Voice and Grade 4 Standard on the Organ. Once Ray left Rugby School she took two years to travel the world, busking around Eastern Europe and Australasia. She worked in Africa as an English and Music teacher and experienced the adventures of the world travelling solo.
Once back in the UK Ray attended Keele University studying Music and Psychology where her final dissertation tackled issues such as Immigration and Integration, making a documentary in order to combat widespread ideas and stereotypes in order to educate and explain reasons and ideas of discrimination. During this time at University Ray was part of the Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserves (University of Birmingham Air Squadron) and the Keele University Women's Rugby Team where she travelled to Kenya to compete in the Safari Sevens and climbed Mt. Kenya for charity - whilst combatting Altitude Sickness, made it to the top in one piece... just.
After graduating from Keele University with a BSc 2:1 Ray worked in recruitment until December 2008. In 2009 Ray moved to London to become a HeadHunter in the Oil and Gas industry and therefore met the beautiful DJ Kerol Kitty. They began working on a concept that would take the UK by storm, a concept to bring DJ beats together with the Melodic tones of the Violin. Taking inspiration from Nuttin But Stringz, Kerol and Ray began meeting more regularly and were then approached by Balearic International. This is where Divas on Decks-Ibiza were born at which point the Divas travelled to the Dominican Republic to open Cafe del Mar.
It is from here that Ray's future will be written..... with hope, inspiration and great support the world is her oyster.
http://raylouisecoyle.blogspot.com/
