VICTOR RAY RELEASES NEW EP – I TRIED. – TODAY
BUZZING SINGER/SONGWRITER VICTOR RAY RELEASES NEW EP I TRIED.
VIA CAPITOL RECORDS – LISTEN HERE
June 14, 2024 — (Hollywood, CA) — Today, rising star Victor Ray shares his brand-new EP, i tried. — a powerhouse project spotlighting his stunning vocal work and captivating brand of soul/R&B. Released via Capitol Records, i tried features the UK-based artist’s recent viral hit “Comfortable,” hailed as a “phenomenon” by CLASH Magazine. Go HERE to listen to i tried. now.
The third EP from Ray, i tried. is the latest in a series of critically acclaimed releases that began with his debut EP i was. and continued with i felt. (a September 2023 project praised as a “searing and mature body of work” by Wonderland Magazine). This time around, the Uganda-born musician brings his unforgettably moving vocals to a selection of songs that match their tremendous emotional depth with a timeless but forward-pushing sound.
A gorgeous example of that dynamic, i tried.’s hypnotic closing track “Lose Myself” unfolds in delicate piano melodies, cinematic strings, and moody samples of crashing thunder as Ray surrenders to the pure ache of longing (from the chorus: “If I lose myself to you/Ain’t no better way to lose”). All throughout the EP, Ray infuses his songwriting with a soulful sincerity made all the more powerful thanks to his extraordinary vocal command and ability to channel so much raw emotion in a single note. Watch the official video for “Lose Myself” HERE.
Along with “Comfortable” and “Lose Myself,” i tried. includes the previously released singles “Halfway There” and “Falling Into Place” feat. Debbie — an epic duet that premiered last month and quickly earned raves from the likes of Vibe, who deemed the track a “shooting star blazing into our orbit.”
Says Ray, “Moving past the themes of loneliness and betrayal, as explored in my previous EP ‘i felt.’, ‘i tried.’ emphasises emotional growth in the continuation of this story with songs like ‘Comfortable’ and ‘Lose Myself’, now moving into a more hopeful space in the pursuit of real connections with ‘Falling into Place’ and ‘Halfway There.’”
Recently named an Apple Music “Up Next UK” artist, Ray grew up in Newcastle, England, and got his start busking around the city while still in high school. After building up a major following on social media — where he now boasts over 4 million followers and over 1 billion combined views across all platforms — he delivered i was. in February 2023 and offered an early glimpse at his sophisticated yet deeply impassioned artistry.
Over the past year, Ray has made his name as a magnetic live performer, a feat that’s included completing a sold-out European tour, supporting Teddy Swims on a spring 2024 tour of the UK, and performing a sold-out headline show at famed London venue Lafayette. Last month, he also took the stage at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in the UK, where he drew the biggest crowd of the day for the BBC Introducing Stage. On the heels of i tried.’s release, Ray is now gearing up for a fall headline tour of the UK and Europe, whose pre-sale sold out within hours.
