Ascending R&B marvel, Victor Ray, has been making strides in music for the last few years. Born in Uganda, raised in Newcastle, England, he has leveraged his powerful voice and soul stirring song writing to make fans, and label executives pay attention. His most recent, not to mention highly impressive, EP, I WILL. was released in early April 2025, a follow-up to 2024’s I TRIED. Our recent Victor Ray interview dives into the new project, upcoming plans in more.
Victor Ray will be kicking off his debut headline tour at West Hollywood, CA’s renowned Troubadour on May 14th.
Parlé Magazine recently tapped in with the powerhouse singer-songwriter on the eve of the release of I Will…
Victor Ray Interview Highlights…
I WILL. [EP]
“I WILL. is a promise to myself. It’s the final page in the first chapter of my story. The dreams that were once unattainable are now in arms reach and only time (will tell).”
‘I AM. TOUR’
“My live show is very raw and honest, but somehow always fun and a bit of a laugh. I’ve always thought my music makes the most sense when you hear it live. Not just because I tell a lot of stories about my songs, but also I feel like I can never translate 100% of my soul and voice on a recording, so I make sure I give everything on stage at every show.”
Songwriting
“Outside of the studio I try to keep myself open to inspiration, because I know how randomly it can come to me. I’ve written entire songs on the London Underground, or on walks. Sometimes I just hear melodies in my head and quickly voice note them on my phone. That being said, most of my songs and writing come from real experiences so it has always been a sort of way for me to deal and make sense of my life.”
Capitol Records
“Wow, to be honest it sounds silly but it all started with me singing on the streets back in 2017, (laughs). It’s crazy but I started busking back then, saved money and moved to London where I kept performing in bars, pubs, weddings and on the street. During this time, I kept writing and writing and then decided to post a video of me busking “Take Me To Church” on TikTok in 2021. That blew up, and then the industry opened up for me. A year later, I sign my record deal. Life is mad.”
Music
“For me, music is a medium for an artist to share a piece of themselves with the world. I can never tell how my songs will be interpreted, but I always hope that it can help people feel understood and make getting through the highs and lows of life easier.”
Dream Collab
“I’d want to perform with James Brown live. He’s just one of those artists that sing from the deepest part of the soul, and I’d want to be next to that energy.”
Wishlist Venue
“Madison Square Garden is a biiiig bucket list moment for me. I’ve just watched so many legends play there. Also, I’ve always been drawn to New York City and want to move there, so it’s only right that I play the Garden eventually!”
State of R&B
“I think R&B is in an exciting place right now. It’s expanding from all angles. Also, when we have mad artists like Leon Thomas breaking through, it’s only a sign of a new wave of R&B artists that’ll take the genre to new levels.”
Least / Most Fave Part(s) Of The Biz
“Favorite part is the music, always. Making it. Playing it. Sharing it with my fans. I’m privileged to have this be the bulk of my job. The more metric based side of my job interests me a lot less to be honest.”
Career Advice
“Be consistent. Be better than you were yesterday. Say something that means something to you.”
Up Next
“More shows, more music. I’m finishing up a mixtape which I’m dropping this summer, and I’ve started writing my first studio album which I’m hoping to release in 2026!”
Connect with Victor Ray on Social Media:
@Victorray
Image Credit: Harvey Pearson
