Music like Castanets

Castanets is the musical project influenced by country, folk and experimental rock led by Ray Raposa who has been signed to Asthmatic Kitty Records since 2004. He has released seven albums, most recently Decimation Blues in 2014. Additionally, his songs appear on a number of split 7-inch singles and EPs with bands including Shapes and Sizes and Dirty Projectors. While Raposa is the only constant member of the band, his records and live performances feature a rotating cast of musicians. A San Diego native, Raposa has lived in Brooklyn and currently resides in Portland, Oregon.

Ray Raposa (b. 1981 Raymond Byron Magic Raposa) was born in Michigan City, Indiana. His family took him to San Diego when he was two years old and he grew up in the Mission Beach area. When he was 13, Raposa and his mother moved to Baja where he was home-schooled for a year. Raposa left school at the age of 15 and traveled around North America and St. Croix doing odd-jobs. He worked as a surf instructor for some time. In his late teens, Raposa became involved in the free-jazz project Womb that recorded a self-titled album in 2001, which was released in 2004. In 2003 he appeared on the Liz Janes live EP Liz Janes And The Three Hour Choir.