The Rayo Brothers are a folk-rock band from Lafayette, Louisiana. The brainchild of two brothers, the band has attracted recent attention since their debut album released in 2014. The Daily Reveille sat down with the band after their set to discuss their inception and performance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
The Daily Reveille: Can you tell me a little bit about the history of the band?
Jesse Reaux: Daniel and I are brothers, so we grew up playing music. Our mom taught us guitar, and we’ve been playing together as far back as we can remember. But the band didn’t start until about 2011, when we started playing open mic nights. Then in 2012 we entered a song-writing competition in Lafayette and we got Lance Kelehan and another guy to play with us. Then the other guy moved to Texas, so Jordan Ardoin joined us. Then Sarah Jayde Williams, this is actually just her second show with us.
TDR: Your family also includes the Lost Bayou Ramblers. How was that an influence growing up?
JR: Louis Michot and Andre Michot are our first cousins. Every time we would get together with that side of the family it was always just a huge jam. There would always be a bunch of guitars and fiddles laying around, and we would always just play music. Our uncles play a lot of traditional Cajun music, but also all kinds of folk and country music. When the Lost Bayou Ramblers started branching out a little bit more and going electric, that kind of inspired us too to put a little bit of edge to our music.
TDR: How did all of the current members meet?
Lance Kelehan: I can tell you my entrance into the band. I was best friends with their step-brother and grew up with him. Jesse and I knew each other casually through school and I told him one day, just kind of flippantly, “Hey, if you ever need anyone to sit in with The Rayo Brothers I’d love to play,” because there was a third brother, Asher, who had to leave the band to become a police officer. I didn’t know it was going to turn into a full-time gig, but I stepped in and played. I started with the song-writing competition they entered. Then Jordan joined about a year and a half ago.
Jordan Ardoin: I met Jesse through a mutual friend of a mutual friend. We kind of just hung out for a little bit, and then when I found out the bass player was leaving, I sent him a text telling him I wanted to try out. I went in, played a couple songs and they were like, “Yeah you’re in the band.”
Sarah Jayde Williams: Jesse and I played for our friend Shawn Bruce, who’s another singer-songwriter out of Lafayette. We were playing together one day with him when Jesse asked me if I’d ever considered playing Jazz Fest. They have a great sound and I love it. Normally I play Cajun music, so being able to transition into this kind of music is so nice.
TDR: How do you feel about the set you just played?
LK: We had a really good reception from the crowd.
Daniel Reaux: It was good. It’s fun when you’re on a big stage and the audience is in a really comfortable state, because they’re free to let loose and get into it as much or as little as they want. In an atmosphere like this there’s lots of different styles of music and you’re not bound by anything. It’s a really cool vibe and it adds a lot to what we do.
TDR: Have you started working on any new material since your debut album?
JR: Yeah, we’re already writing. Daniel does most of the writing, and he and I co-write a little bit. Lance co-writes a little as well.
JA: I’m finally joining the forces. I’ve got about four songs in the works.
JR: We’re in the process of writing right now, so we just have a ton of songs that we’re working on. We don’t know what’s going to be in the new album yet, but we’re hoping to start recording late this year and have a new album early next year.
TDR: What are your future goals as a group?
LK: Open for Katy Perry.
JR: I’d like to tour the nation as much as possible, but I want to just keep making music and keep improving with that. Just keep branching out and exploring all of our roots, and then pressing on.
DR: We all have full time jobs and everything, but I’d really like to experience short tours and bigger festivals. Europe would be nice.

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Raegan Labat

From left, Sarah Jayde Williams, Daniel Reaux, Jordan Ardoin and Lance Kalehan of Lafayette's The Rayo Brothers talk about the origins of the band Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 backstage at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.