Ray-Ban RAW SOUNDS is a unique collaboration between young rock’n’roll and legendary rock’n’roll.
Developed by legendary rocker Johnny Marr of The Smiths - RAW SOUNDS is a five element challenge for new contemporary bands; Best Coast, Mona, Au Revior Simone and Tom Vek. The idea of collaborating with bands in an imaginative way was intriguing and a challenge that he enjoyed!
How does Ray-Ban fit into the rock equation? For years Ray-Ban has seen the birth of rock’n’roll through the ages. It defined numerous music cultures and changed the way we see into the world of rock and how it is seen from the stage.
The five part challenge developed by Marr were a combination of inspirations on which, the selected bands were to write a track in their own style. Inspiration was drawn from a poem entitled “I Know The Radiant City” written by Marr, a quotation from the famous German philosopher Schiller, a video of Marr playing a looped guitar tune called “Strum and Drang”, a photo entitled “Now Look!” taken by Marr of his two friends filming and photographing each other and a map of the Lower East Side area of New York.
Johnny Marr himself, has always been a Ray-Ban fan: “I’ve worn Ray-Ban for years… When I first started out with The Smiths I wore them all the time”, he stated. “I used to work in a shop in Manchester during the early 80s, we were the very first selling Ray-Ban. I recall I purposely ordered one pair for me so I could be one of the few people in Manchester at the time wearing Ray-Ban”
One of the bands, Best Coast - A surf rock psych band from LA is actually one of my favourite bands right now. Ever since they debuted their cd “Crazy For You” I fell in love straight away! I was super excited to find out they were part of the RAW SOUNDS project! Their track for RAW SOUNDS is called “In Your Sleep” and drew inspiration from the “New Look!” photo by Marr and the looped “Strum and Drang”. You can hear it here !
To further contribute to the RAW SOUNDS, Ray-Ban will release a limited Johnny Marr edition Signet sunglass model (Marr pictured wearing above). For rock’n’roll fans - this piece will be a MUST for any collector! Similar to the Ray-Ban Clubmaster but completely metal framed, along with signature “Johnny” on the temple. Creating his own piece of Ray-Ban history!
Ray-Ban RAW SOUNDS will proceed in a series of gigs in music capitals around the world and has already kicked off with a unique show on the 13/10 at Angel Orensanz Foundation For Contemporary Art in New York. Johnny Marr performed with his new band The Healers and played hits from his back catalogue including The Smiths with support by Best Coast and Mona.
Ray-Ban RAW SOUNDS will continue with shows in London and Hong Kong in November
- T xo
