1. Hi Raylin! Please introduce yourself to those who might not know you.
What’s up!? I’m Raylin Joy — a singer, songwriter, actress, model, and general mischief maker. I was born in California but moved to Scotland as a baby and grew up there until my early twenties, when I rather spontaneously moved to LA. I love Scotland, but I always felt drawn to life here! These days, I sing in my band The Calamatix, which I developed with Tim Armstrong. We’re a rocksteady–reggae ska group that leans into our old-school roots.
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2. How did your connection with Shira and Gritty In Pink come about? 
Actually, speaking of Tim — he introduced us when the band was playing at BeachLife Festival!
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3. When did you first realize music was your path? Was there a specific moment or influence that solidified being an artist as your dream?
I’ve always loved to sing! And I’ve made up silly little songs for as long as I can remember. My dad was also a singer and an actor, so it’s in my blood. Being an entertainer is something that gives me great joy. I initially went to college to study theater acting before getting into modeling, and then life took me in some crazy directions before I remembered again how much I loved to WRITE. Mixing poetry and rhythm with harmonies and music is nothing short of magic, and once I started to take it seriously, I knew that was all I wanted to focus on.
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4. What's it like to be a part of the effort to create a supportive community for a set of diverse women in the music industry?  
It’s amazing!!!! Finding Shira and Gritty was a dream because I was at a point where I wanted to meet more WOMEN in music. I love my boys, but… you know… lol. And Gritty is such a, like you said, diverse group of women — it’s a great network to be a part of! I’ve already met so many new friends. It’s a great industry resource!
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5. Your band, The Calamatix, released a debut album in 2024, where are you creatively now? Are new songs or projects starting to take shape for something fans can expect in the future?
We’ve been quietly working on our new album, plus other projects simultaneously, and I’ve got some big surprises in the works! You’ll have to stay on top of my social media to get the skinny on that one.
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6. As a reggae/ska band signed to Hellcat Records, what does that partnership mean to you creatively and culturally? And what kind of freedom or guidance have you experienced being signed to the label?
It’s a huge honor. Hellcat is an iconic label that creates the best ska and punk lineups the world has to offer! Tim is an incredible producer, and he’s always been the most supportive of my ideas and vision for the band. It’s been a dream collaboration! Everyone at Hellcat has been amazing. We feel like we’re in the very best of hands for this project!

7. How does your on-stage persona differ from your offstage self, and what does performing allow you to express?
I feel like my onstage persona is just an amplified version of myself — my most positive self! It’s funny, I always talk about how a lot of these songs came out of a pretty dark period of my life, but they accidentally all came out really upbeat, haha… I guess that’s ska! It’s hard to be sad when you just wanna dance and vibe!

8. The Calamatix played various festivals last year, what’s been your favorite part about being on the festival circuit?
Meeting the fans! That's the beauty of festivals. It's an all day thing so you can hang out, see other bands, and most importantly connect with other people who love the music!
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9. You’re originally from Scotland, what differences have you noticed between the music scene there and in LA?
I love the music scene in Scotland, you’d be surprised! The Scots love some reggae. But the music scene is also very diverse, in my opinion. I grew up listening to absolutely everything, from soul to metal, pop, 2 Tone ska… One of my favorite eras from before I moved to the States was my time living in Edinburgh and running around the drum and bass circuit. Some of the best times of my life!
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10. Which artists helped shape you as an artist musically or aesthetically? 
OH GOD SO MANY... lol. *clears throat* Old school favs that I grew up obsessing over include Billie Holiday, Michael Jackson & Eartha Kitt. Also heavily influenced by more modern artists (At least by my old ass standards) Amy Winehouse, Lauryn Hill, Gwen Stefani…and from a writer's perspective I loved Sia during those early years when she collaborated with the band Zero 7.
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11. If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be? 
If I could go back in time to the ’90s and do a song with Gwen Stefani during the No Doubt days, that would be rad as hell.
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12. If your life were a movie, what would it be called and who would play you as a kid, teenager, and adult?
I'd call it "Bad 4 Good"...Not sure who'd play me though. I do get compared to Jada Pinkett Smith a lot for some reason so maybe she'd play my older self, but I'm not quite there yet!
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13. What’s a musical achievement from this past year that you’re proud of? 
I played my first festivals all over the country! Can't wait for more adventures on the road. Performing my songs while people jam out and enjoy themselves is a dream come true x

14. What’s next? 
I have some secrets up my sleeve that I’m pretty stoked to unveil! I’ve got some awesome collaborations coming, and I’ve also been gearing up to start streaming more for my fans and to connect with more people. Until then, check out my social media @rayjoycat on all platforms!! You can also follow my band @thecalamatix on all platforms — and visit www.calamatix.com x
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