Victor Ray

Listen to the upcoming single 'Hearts Break & People Change' below

Born in Uganda, raised in Newcastle and now residing in London, 24-year-old Victor Ray got his start as a musician the hard way: busking.

Singing his heart out on the streets forced him to learn patience and showmanship, how to win even the frostiest crowd over and make them care.

“I feel like I have something to say and something to prove. I just do anything that I can to show people that I tell real stories with my writing. I’m very passionate about that.”

All of these tools, combined with a knack for making a big impression quickly, have also turned out to be incredibly effective at growing an audience on socials, where his songs continue to resonate with millions of people (5.5 million to be exact).

Musically, Victor has absorbed the singer-songwriter tradition that has always been ingrained in Newcastle’s live music scene, not to mention one of his biggest inspirations, Ed Sheeran. He also cites Donny Hathaway, Michael Jackson, J. Cole and Usher (whose last name - Raymond - partly inspired Victor’s stage name) as influences to his timeless sound. But rather than describe it as a take on R&B or something hip-hop influenced, Victor is proving there’s space for young black British talent making authentic, popular music.

"I’m really excited for the world to understand that there’s a lot of Black British talent and a lot of stories here in the pop world, not just in R&B and hip-hop. I want to really push the boundaries and take it as far as it can go. That way people can really aspire for more than what they feel like they’re restricted to."

Across Victor’s music, there’s one undeniable through line: storytelling. From first loves, to heartbreak and deeply personal family history, he is unapologetically honest in his lyrics. His first EP, i was, came from a place of raw emotion, notably his first song “Hollow”, which was written when Victor was feeling low in himself. Ripping from the pages of his life and pouring them into his successive second and third EPs, his fans learn more and more about his story.

“All of my projects are telling this overarching story of me up until now. As we get to EP 4, I really want to get to a place where I’m confident in myself, and then we go into an album where people understand who I am as an artist. I’m laying the groundwork for my fans.”

Victor is on the cusp of something massive and it’s palpable.