Michael Ray has a new version of his Top 40 hit, “Holy Water..” The song is on his new The Bootlegger Sessions EP, which is out now.
“The Bootlegger Sessions were born out of my love and passion for traditional country music… and the stories that only this genre tells,” Ray explains on social media. “Y’all know it’s the honesty in those songs by Randy Travis, Tracy Lawrence, Trisha Yearwood‘ and so many more that inspire the kind of music I write, record and play for y’all every night on the road… and my latest single is no exception.
“I’m excited to close out this chapter with a new stripped-down version of ‘Holy Water,'” he adds. “I hope you hear this song’s story in a whole new way. The full Bootlegger Sessions EP featuring ‘Holy Water’ is out TONIGHT!!!!”
Other songs on Ray’s The Bootlegger Sessions EP include Travis’ “Three Wooden Crosses,” Lawrence’s Time Marches On,” George Strait‘s “The Chair,” and Yearwood’s “Walkaway Joe.”
For Ray, it’s important to honor those who have gone before him, while carving out his own country music career.
“I just feel like it’s part of our job, to continue to shine a light when you can on the men and women who have paved the way for the rest of us, the men and women that inspired us,” Ray previously told MusicRow. “There are kids hearing me on the radio that maybe didn’t grow up with Alabama, Tracy Lawrence, or Joe Diffie, but if I can make that kid find ‘The Weekend’ by Steve Wariner, now, all of a sudden, he’s downloading all of [Wariner’s] stuff.”
Although not part of his The Bootlegger Sessions EP, there’s another artist who Ray says might have had the most influence of anyone on him and his music: the legendary Tim McGraw.
“I try to make records like McGraw does,” Ray tells People. “I mean you can put on a McGraw record, and you are going to turn that whole dang thing.”
Ray is also working on more original music, after the release of his Higher Education EP. last year.
“Both with Higher Education and what’s going to be coming next is going to be different than what anybody’s heard. It’s not going to be some shocker out of nowhere though … I’m not doing a jazz album,” Ray quips.
Find The Bootlegger Sessions and all of Ray’s music by visiting his website.
