Michael Ray and Meghan Patrick’s Haunting Duet, ‘Spirits and Demons,’ Is Heading To Country Radio
The artists didn’t hold back on showing their excitement over the news.
Meghan Patrick, Michael Ray; Photo by Conner Morss
Michael Ray and Meghan Patrick are heading to country radio with their heartbreaking duet, “Spirits and Demons.”
The country stars took to social media to let fans know that their collaborative ballad is officially impacting the airwaves on August 28. Their post was paired with the cover art of the tune as well as a screenshot of a text thread showcasing the pair’s honest reactions to learning their song is making its way to country radio.
Their caption read, “IT’S OFFICIAL! Our new single #SpiritsAndDemons is headed to country radio. Listen starting August 28th!!! Swipe to see our reaction 🥃💔”
Impacting Radio On August 28
“Spirits and Demons” finds the country artists collectively making an attempt to drown out the memories of their heartbreak through late nights and bottles of red wine. However, they eventually come to realize that all that time spent at the bar isn’t bringing any healing, instead its adding fuel to the blazing fire.
“Spirits and demons won’t bring no healin’ / Ain’t no miracle at the bottom of the bottle I’m drinkin’ / It’s just a buzz on a broken heart barely beatin’ / Gas on a fire mix it with whiskey and you leavin’ / Spirits and demons,” Ray and Patrick harmonize on the chorus.
Listen
“Sometimes you hear a song, and it hits you: that’s just how it is,” Ray shared in a statement. “You play enough bars beyond the city limits, you see it all go down. Really good people who get in their feelings, the way a good time or a way out becomes a bottomless pit. The more I listened, the more I thought it needed something else…”
That something else was the female touch. In order to take this song to the next level he enlisted Meghan Patrick to bring her own set of stunning vocals as a way to echo the storyline at hand.
“We went through so many thoughts and names; they were all great, but nobody felt quite right,” Ray admitted. “And it’s funny, because the answer was right under my nose. I’ve been friends with Meghan for years, in the way you’ve got your ‘Hey, I’m off the road. Wanna grab a beer?’ friends when you’re home for two or three days.”
He went on to gush about Patrick’s incredible friendship and marveled at the fact that no matter how long they go without seeing each other, they will always pick right back up where they left off.
“So many of us are out there weeks at a time, chasing the dream. When you’re always gone, those friends who get you and get the commitment it takes, where you pick up right where you left off? They’re gold. Meghan’s not only a friend and a great hang, no matter who’s around, she’s got a voice that can blister concrete – and a gift to reach right into a song and rip its heart out, put it in her throat and meet you line for line with some intense emotions.”
EP Available Now
This duet appears as the fifth track on Ray’s 6-song Dive Bars & Broken Hearts EP, which also features previously released fan favorites “Workin’ on It” and “Get Her Back.”
Recorded with multi-Platinum CMA Album of the Year producer Michael Knox, Dive Bars & Broken Hearts acts as a coming-of-age portrayal for Ray. It delivers a raw, honest journey of growth, going from a boy whose life revolves around chasing girls, and constantly getting his heart broken to learning to man up and evolve into someone he’s proud of.
“Life is sometimes a lot simpler than we make it,” Ray shared of the project. “And we have a lot more power to accept what doesn’t work and grow, or to create the best possible life than we realize… And that’s where some of the best country songs come from. For me, Dive Bars is about all that, without ever giving up or losing your sense of the right thing to do.”
Michael Ray kickstarted his 2023 headlining tour in May and has continued to bring his new music to life with stops in cities such as Buffalo, NY, San Diego, CA, Johnstown, PA and more.
He’s next slated to perform on August 9 in Waynesburg, PA.
Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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