by Jim BrenholtsMarina Raye was born in the Congo and lived there for the first 10 years of her life. Her unique experiences as a Caucasian female in culturally diverse environs have given her an original perspective for musical interpretation. She has been dubbed "The Feminine Voice of the Native American Flute." (The emphasis is mine.) Indeed, her atmospheres and sound designs focus on the flute as the primary source. Her husband, Charlie Oakwind, designs and creates her flutes. (She has also traded flutes with Michael Graham Allen of Coyote Oldman.) Raye also uses subtle electronics (mostly by Jim Oliver), overt nature samples and gentle percussion to give her soundscapes depth and passion. She creates all of her work at her home studio and records her albums at Oliver's studio. She owns her label -- Native Heart Music. She designs and creates the artwork to accompany her wonderful music. While it is not difficult to write about this beautiful soul, her music must be experienced to be appreciated fully. Her work comes from her spirit and her heart. She plays as the spirit moves her. She and Oakwind live in an Earthship home that is powered by the sun and the wind. They live gently on the Earth. It is fitting that her flutescapes have space music properties. That is space as in inner space.