Ray Azevedo Brings Groove, Chaos, and Heavy Energy to “20 JOINTS”

Brazilian-born, Vancouver-based musician Ray Azevedo, also known as Raz, is turning an unforgettable night in Montreal into something louder with his alternative and hard rock track “20 Joints,” released in collaboration with BRUTAX.

A session drummer, arranger, and musician with more than two decades of experience, Azevedo brings together the influences that have shaped his career, from heavy rock and groove to Brazilian rhythms. “20 Joints” puts that versatility front and center, building its identity around a rhythmic approach that refuses to make heavy music feel predictable.

Inspired by a night filled with people, chaos, laughs, and unpredictable moments, the track is ultimately about being fully present. Rather than overthinking what comes next, Azevedo captures the feeling of letting go and embracing the kind of experiences that eventually become stories you keep telling.

Musically, “20 Joints” hits hard while leaving plenty of room for movement. A strong half-time shuffle pocket gives the track its foundation, while dynamic shifts and touches of Brazilian percussion add character beyond the traditional hard-rock formula. Azevedo’s drumming isn’t simply keeping time here. It becomes one of the song’s defining voices, balancing power with feel and rhythmic unpredictability.

That approach reflects a musician who has spent years behind the kit learning that heaviness doesn’t have to mean sacrificing groove. There’s personality in the track’s rhythmic choices, giving “20 Joints” an energy that feels loose enough to capture the chaos behind its inspiration while remaining sharply controlled.

For Azevedo, the goal is straightforward: turn it up and have fun. “20 Joints” makes that invitation pretty difficult to ignore.

You’ve spent more than 20 years as a drummer and arranger. What did you want “20 Joints” to reveal about you as an artist that people might not hear in your session work? “20 Joints” groove is about my instinct and my love for blending different influences into a sound that reflects my personality. 

“20 Joints” was inspired by an unforgettable night in Montreal. What happened that night that made you realize there was a song in the experience? I wasn’t there that night, but the story became a starting point for the composition. I just got involved in translating the energy into the groove and arrangement of the track. 

The track combines heavy rock with a half-time shuffle and Brazilian percussion. How did you find the balance between those different rhythmic worlds without losing the song’s raw energy?

I think it was mostly about letting the groove tell a bit of the story too. I remember feeling something laid-back and fun in the story/arrangement so I played the shuffle for the verse, then the straight kick and snare with some funk swing on the ride cymbal for the choruses. They enjoyed it. The Brazilian percussion came along naturally and added another layer without taking away from the energy. 

Drummers are often expected to support a song rather than define it, but rhythm feels central to the identity of “20 Joints.” How do you approach making the drums part of the storytelling?

I think grooves can change the way we feel a song. For me, it’s not just about what we play, but also how we want the whole thing to feel. 

Growing up in Rio de Janeiro and now creating music in Vancouver, how have those two environments shaped your musical instincts, and where do you want to take your sound next?

Moving to Vancouver actually brought me closer to Brazilian rhythms, West African and Latin grooves. Working as a session drummer, I’ve had the opportunity to work on different projects and styles, and it made me want to dig deeper into my own culture. I really enjoy bringing the Brazilian elements into different musical worlds. I’d like to keep exploring that and see where it takes me.