"Glowing" by Justin Ravary Ellis

Justin Ravary Ellis - song, lyrics, bass, guitars, vocals, keyboards, drums and percussion
Jay Nemeyer - backing vocals, guitar, synth

Produced by Justin Ravary Ellis, Jay Nemeyer, and Kyle Downes
Engineered + Mixed by Kyle Downes
Mastered by Nico Grossfeld
Recorded at Sunday Coffee, Washington DC, 12/5/21
Cover art by Sarlis
Bio/ Press Release by Trey Tyler


Ravary's dazzling new single “Glowing” opens with a confession: “I check my phone for hours / To see if you like what you see,” Justin Ellis tenderly croons over a bouncy drum loop and jangly guitars. After a year-and-half absence, Ellis’ “solo-with-friends” project returns, expanding upon the singer-songwriter foundation of his 2020 debut, Hands to Feel. Synthesizing 80’s baggy dance rhythms with the melodic, guitar-driven sheen of contemporaries like Soccer Mommy and beabadoobee, “Glowing” is a poignant swirl of guitar-pop that sounds distantly familiar, but not nostalgic. “Glowing” gradually embraces you in a warm wall-of-sound, filled with shimmering guitars and soaring harmonies. On the song’s final ascent, Ellis assuredly beams with anthemic optimism, “And your eyes, glow / And my eyes, know / And our lies grow / While the silence overflows” as a simple, but effective slide-guitar solo melody reverberates over chiming guitar roars. It’s hard to blame Ellis for making us wait in-between Ravary releases when he is busy sharing his talents with other illustrious bands such as Easter Island, Ins Kino, and Slow Teeth, but “Glowing” is proof of his own incandescent talents, and evolution as an artist. Now more than a decade into his music journey here in the Triangle, Ellis’ music continues to evolve and excite.

Lyrics:
I check my phone for hours
To see if you like what you see
I sent you cake, I sent you flowers
Could you kiss me through the screen?

And your eyes glow
And my eyes know

I drive my car for hours
Show up unannounced at yours

And your eyes glow
And my eyes know
And our lies grow
While the silence overflows

Glowing

"Hands To Feel", the debut LP from Ravary, releases 6/9/2020.

All music and lyrics by Justin Ravary Ellis
Produced/ Engineered by JRE and Patrick O'Neill
Mixed by JRE and Waldo Wittenmyer
Additional mixing and engineering by Jason Merritt
Mastered by Waldo Wittenmyer

All songs performed and arranged by;

JRE - all vocals + bass, guitars, keyboards, percussion

Nick Johnson - Violin + backing vocal on "Betelgeuse"
Patrick O'Neill - Guitar
Jake Waits - Drums
Waldo Wittenmyer - Keyboards

Recorded February 2018 - March 2019 at Seriously Adequate Studios in Carrboro, NC, May- June 2019 at Blinky Star in Chapel Hill, and February 2020 at Bim Sounds in Carrboro.

Cover art by Evee Erb

Very special thanks to Alex Maiolo, Jason Merritt, Waldo Wittenmyer, and Chesley Kalnen

I didn't know him long, but I feel Dan Lilley would have enjoyed this album. He was one of the first people to ever hear some of these songs, and I wish he were still with us.

Album release date:
June 9th, 2020

Lunar Love

Slow Down/ Easier

You & I

Hands To Feel

Finally

I Echo

I Know What It Is I Want

Betelgeuse

Performed and recorded by Justin Ravary Ellis at home in Carrboro, NC, USA.

Written by Raymond Vincy and Henri Martinet, originally recorded by Tino Rossi in 1946

Justin Ravary Ellis - production, vocals, drum machine, percussion, guitars, bass, synthesizers
Grégory Ravary Ellis - backing vocals
Juliette-Romy Ravary Ellis - backing vocals

Recorded as a Christmas gift for our mother, Linda Ravary, and released 12/20/2020.

French lyrics translated below:

Little Father Christmas
When you descend from the skies
With thousands of toys
Please don't forget my shoe/ stocking

But before you leave
Make sure you're well dressed
It's very cold outside, and it is partly my fault that you are outside in the first place.

I can't wait till morning comes
And see if you brought me all the toys of my dreams
In addition to the ones I've ordered from you

Single photograph taken by JRE at White Nancy, a structure atop Kerridge Hill in Rainow, Cheshire, UK, on Christmas Day 2019.  Every year, townspeople hike to the top of the hill with thermoses of mulled wine and listen to a community brass band play loads of Christmas carols.   Hoping for the day we can all gather in such close proximity again.

- Justin