Ray

When looking at a painting we identify, among other things, both the beauty and darkness of the composition. We try to understand the artist through the various shades and colors, and although not a painter, Ray’s colors are so bold and his shades so dark that we are under no illusion as to what he feels. A poet who paints his pictures with words, Ray bares his soul and invites his listener to view the world from a fresh perspective; a perspective that manages to be both intensely individual, yet globally applicable.

Rebellion is something that often has no ultimate goal or cause; it merely hopes to provide instant change and fails to offer the solution of lasting peace. Ray however is a 21st century rebel, one with a cause and message that is readily understood by those with a willing ear for change. Through resolving the tragedies of his own past, as well as empathizing with his fellow humanity, Ray exorcizes his demons and retrospectively repairs the world that created his circumstances. It is this cathartic process that we can all relate to.

The range of Ray’s talents and message is explored with appropriate gusto in his EP entitled, rather aptly, ‘Rebel With A Cause.’ From the aggressive affirmation of his own struggle in ‘My Life’ to ‘Rebel With A Cause,’ a track that has all the somber beauty of a classical nocturne, Ray applies his lyrical fluidity with ineffable ease. At a time in history where the temporal nature of our existence has never been so evident it is refreshing to hear an artist whose creativity draws from the well of global suffering. From social injustice to the rather bleak but palpable possibility of a nuclear holocaust, Ray exhibits the intelligence and skill to deal with such themes, artfully weaving them into the common and the mundane aspects of 21st century life.

Ray’s global sensibility comes as no surprise. Born in Japan to British and Japanese parents, he moved to the UK aged 5 and has since resided in both countries. Writing, composing, arranging, producing and performing his own material since the age of 16, he enrolled in Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and graduated with a BA (Hons) in Sound Technology.

Ray’s time at LIPA is where his career as an artist began to take flight. He co-produced/performed on an R&B track that won First Place as the most downloaded song in a competition hosted by EMI Japan & the British Council. His highest accolade came when British alternative rock record producer Alan Moulder reviewed the aforementioned EP ‘Rebel With A Cause,’ stating, “I honestly thought all of the songs were very strong and the overall package came across great.” In 2010, Ray was selected as HitQuarters ‘Artist Of The Week.’ In the same year, he was also the Grand Prize Winner as well as the Lennon Award Winner for the Hip-Hop category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Additionally, Ray won First Place for the R&B/Hip-Hop category of the International Songwriting Competition. Judges included Timbaland & Darryl McDaniels of Run DMC. Ray’s latest EP, entitled ‘Requiem For Hip Hop,’ will be released on Apple iTunes and Amazon MP3 on March 11, 2012. This includes the charity single ‘Imagine,’ the proceeds of which will be donated in full to the victims of the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami.

In his music Ray has found a lifeline. It is his dream to be able to share that lifeline with others to support, awaken, and shake people of all ages, races and creeds. To quote E. Y. Harburg, “Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. A song makes you feel a thought.”