Interview with Marina Raye, Feminine Voice of Native Flute

Get up close and personal with sonic Shaman, Marina Raye and find out how she stay centered and grounded in life, and how she prepares for every music recording

Interview with Marina Raye

If you are a regular reader of The Conscious Life or a fan of Native American flute music, you would have probably come across one of Marina Raye’s soulful melodies.

Marina is an amazing musician who creates original compositions straight from her heart, and she has been kind enough to grant an interview with The Conscious Life. Read on to learn more about her music, her inspirations and her life.

About Marina Raye

Marina was born in Africa where she spent her first ten years. Trained as a classical musician, she has been called a sonic shaman because of her mastery of the native flute.

Due to the peaceful and harmonious qualities of her notes, Marina’s music has been widely used by many in the healing professions to invoke a state of tranquility and a sense of closeness to nature.

Marina runs her own record label, Native Heart Music, and has launched fifteen albums to date.

One-on-One with Marina Raye

When did you start playing the Native American Flute? How did you become a professional musician?

I bought my first flute fifteen years ago in a Native shop in Colorado. I was hooked immediately. A few weeks later I was scheduled to speak to a large group in Dallas, Texas. I began the program by playing my flute. I was on a speaking tour, traveling to a different city each week and played my flute to begin each event. At first, I knew just one song. So one song worked until one group asked me to play another. I closed my eyes, and played, discovering that new songs are often born spontaneously. Now, improvising is my favorite way to perform.

Becoming a professional musician unfolded much like a dream for me. Not long after I purchased my first flute, we visited Sedona, Arizona. I bought my second flute from Grandfather Hollis Littlecreek who spent some time taking my husband, Charlie, and me to sacred places. I played my flute at every energy vortex we visited. That was a powerful experience. I felt a deep connection to the ancient spirits of that sacred land. Grandfather Hollis asked me to play for a gathering at his home, and I am deeply grateful for his encouragement.

We returned home to Colorado and in the next few months, Charlie started making flutes. The fourth one he made was a flute I used on my first CD. He was a natural at flute making. We participated in a metaphysical fair, and I played the flute at our booth. People kept asking where they could buy my albums, and I decided to start a mailing list of those interested. A few days later we went to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and someone recommended a recording studio there. I made an appointment to record my first album and had no idea what I would do. I didn’t even have song titles, much less any music planned out! Two days later I was in front of the microphone, trusting that I was being guided. Four months later I was back in the same studio, this time with song titles and some melodies ready. I recorded two CDs, back to back. Since then, I have come out with a new record at least every one or two years and am up to fifteen now. My favorite experience is in the recording studio. I will have the opening riff of most of the songs written out. When my engineer signals me that he is ready for me to record, the magic begins. I close my eyes and play that opening riff and from there, I let go and allow the music to play through me. I keep returning to the main riff, but the rest is pure improvisation.
You published a new album called Keepers of the Light in April 2009. Could you tell us more about this album? How is it different from your previous albums?

This is the deepest of my albums. It is dedicated to two very dear friends who were killed by terrorists in November 2008, in Mumbai, India. The focus of the music is that we are all Keepers of the Light. The harmonic overtone arrays under the music create a space that is excellent for healing work. Harold Moses stated, “I am honored to create these sacred overtone arrays to match Marina’s uniquely expressive flutes. Each Harmonic Drone™ provides both a firm grounding and a shimmering upward energy, allowing this music to fly between Heaven and Earth.”
So how did Dr H.G. Moses get involved in this album? Where did the inspiration to include viola comes from?

I first heard Harold Moses play his viola at an international trade show in Denver thirteen years ago. I was deeply moved by the depth of emotion he expressed through his beautiful music and knew then that someday he would be the guest artist on one of my CDs.
What do you want your listeners to take away from this new album?

It is my heartfelt wish that Keepers of the Light serve as an instrument for the healing of humanity. May it inspire and lighten my listeners’ journey.
How do you usually prepare yourself before every music recording? Do you do some form of meditation or visualization?

My preparation for recording sessions takes from three to six months. I usually do a ceremony to open the space for the new music to come in. This involves setting my intention, placing it into a special sacred object, which I place into the center of my labyrinth. This object, usually a crystal, will hold the energy of the new music and it will accompany me into the studio. I spend much time in meditation and yoga, contemplating the theme of the music and opening myself to the silence.
Your album covers often depict some mystical images of Native American people. Are they created by you?

I am not the artist. The artist is Charles Frizzell, a very gifted visionary artist and dear friend.
It must be inspirational to live in the mountains of West Carolina. What’s your daily routine like? How often do you go to the nearest city?

I spend time daily in meditation, usually early in the morning. Then I go for a walk with my husband, Charlie, and our dog, Arjuna. Our land is steep, so a walk is really a hike in the beautiful forest. A healthy breakfast follows, then answering email and packing CD and flute orders. I make a trip into our little town to ship packages and sometimes visit a couple of health food stores. I take time every day to work in our organic gardens. That is something that grounds and nurtures me. Our nearest city is Asneville, NC. I go there once or twice a month.
What do you usually listen to for inspiration and relaxation? Any favorite artistes?

Because I am always working on my next CD, I listen to very few artists. When I do, Deuter is one of my favorites.
Any interesting facts that you would like your fans to know?

I was born in the Congo, to loving, dedicated parents. I was given the African name, “Mujinga” which means “The Loved One.” Ma and Dad loved classical music and taught me to appreciate and love it. My earliest exposure to music was taking piano lessons and since we had no piano, I practiced on our pump organ. Always present were the sounds of nature and distant native drumming. Africa filled my soul with the magic of music. I took weekly piano lessons and was encouraged by my parents to be dedicated in my practicing. The sounds of the Earth and the earthy rhythms of the native people nurtured my love of music. Anything to do with music got my full attention. I dreamed of being a performing artist, and in that dream I could feel the love flowing back to me from my listeners. It is important to pay attention to our childhood dream for our lives so that we can answer the call to live our bliss.

In this time of great chaos on our beautiful Earth, we must be the peace that we seek. I love this Earth so deeply that every step I take is a sacred step. My intention is to be of service through the music of my heart. In addition, my husband and I are deeply committed to walking gently on the Earth. We drive a hybrid car. We have built our solar-powered, dream home, totally off the electrical grid. We chose renewable, green building materials. We are passionate about our organic gardens, growing many fruits, vegetables and herbs. We are constantly finding ways to live more sustainably. For example, we avoid buying out-of-season foods because of the ridiculous amount of fossil fuels it takes to truck produce thousands of miles. I adore bananas, but I no longer buy them because it is not honoring the Earth to support non-sustainable practices. We all need to examine our energy consumption and spending habits to find ways to lessen our carbon footprint.
Tell us what you have been busy with lately?

Besides shipping orders and gardening, I am beginning the work on my next CD. This one will have trance drumming for the accompaniment. I feel a lot of energy for this project and look forward to its unfoldment!
What are your plans for the next one to two years like?

I plan to continue working on my own spiritual journey, more music and lots of gardening.
Lastly, any advice for The Conscious Life readers on how to stay centered and grounded no matter what happened in life?

Staying centered and grounded is proportional to balance in three areas: physical, emotional and mental. If any of these are out of balance, we will be stressed and fragmented. Physical balance is directly related to our diet. I follow the Zone Diet pretty closely. It is anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and very balancing. Physical exercise is the other key ingredient in balancing the physical dimension. At least 30 minutes a day of aerobic type exercise is extremely important to stay balanced. For the mental balance, meditation is the key ingredient. Meditation also assists in emotional balance. In addition, I use breathwork and inquiry to stay emotionally balanced.