Ray Reaves
Toronto, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2017
Music
Press
Ray Reaves The Gemini release
Gemini season is upon us! Duality, contrast, whatever you want to call it: It's a time to look at both sides of the coin. And no one knows the importance of this introspection better than Ray Reaves, who drops his latest EP The Gemini on June 8.
The six-track collection, coming days after his 21st birthday, sees the American-Canadian rapper exploring many facets of his personality and touches on depression, egotism and suicide. With sounds ranging from hyped and trappy to low-key and vibey, and with lyrics like "I'm a scrawny n—-a from the suburbs, but I'll kill you n——s on this trapping shit," it's indicative of someone who can't simply be taken at face value.
"There's a part of me that wants to be like 'I'm the shit, I'm awesome, Ray Reaves is the next big thing,' and extroverted," says Reaves. "But there's another side most people don't see that's calm, reserved, and consciously aware."
A former clarinet-playing band geek turned hip hop artist, music has taken on different meanings in his life. Referring to songwriting as his form of "self-medication," Reaves co-produced The Gemini alongside up-and- coming producers Fontaine, Choi and Nineteen92; including lead single "Kill Switch" released last month.
Available via major streaming services upon release, it marks the musician's third EP in six months, but he's not stopping there. To promote his new music, Reaves will play a number of shows, including a release-day party at The Carleton.
With its lyrical candour and instrumentation to match, The Gemini is sure to set it off this summer wherever it's played—while drawing fans further into Reaves' world. "I want people to connect with my trials and tribulations and know someone wants to help them through their own situations," says Reaves. "I hope they get some understanding of who I am, not only as an artist—but as a person." - The Coast
Discography
The Fall (2019-09-23)
Sounds Like Summer Album (2019-06-21)
Spring Showers EP (2019-03-20)
It's Okay (Single, released Fall 2018)
In The Moment (Single, released Fall 2018)
The Gemini EP (2018-06-08)
Songs About Girls EP (2018-02-14)
For A Lack Of Better Words EP (2017-12-07)
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Bio
American Rapper, Hip Hop artist, singer-songwriter, and producer Ray Reaves was born with a pure artistic talent that is evidenced by his rapid rise on the urban music scene. A native of New Jersey, Ray relocated along the Eastern U.S. Seaboard several times during his childhood allowing him the unique privilege of experiencing a broad range of cultural music styles. Spending time in the southern Hip Hop scenes of Atlanta and Raleigh, and heavily influenced by the works of Drake, it’s no surprise that Reaves has an edgy, rhythmic beat running through his veins. But it was the epic electronic game Guitar Hero that first peaked Ray’s interest in studying music and drove him to become a socially relevant, multi-faceted performing artist. His aptitude for learning, coupled with intellectual creativity, cultivated his passion for music and led him to mastering a dozen instruments at a young age.
In his early years as a musician, Ray developed a profound social conscious that deeply empathized with issues facing today’s younger generation. Using music as a platform to reach out to his peers, Ray became front man of the band Sankofa in 2013, singing lead vocals and writing lyrics and most of the music for the band’s bass guitar, lead guitar, and drums. A move to Canada to study Music Arts and Music Business at Nova Scotia Community College inspired the forming of his second band, Ray Reaves & The Antagonists, a five-piece Hip Hop and R&B group formed in 2016 with fellow student musicians.
Then in 2018 Reaves made the pivotal decision to pursue a solo career, enabling him the limitless freedom to fully express himself as an emerging Rap artist. Drawing from several influences, including his misfortunes with the opposite sex, Reaves has developed a vulnerable and authentic sound that emulates the way his brain processes real-life circumstances. This emersion into life has enabled him to write intricate lyrics that display strong storytelling elements underscored by inner personal struggles and outside influences of social injustice.
After eight years on the Hip Hop scene and several single releases on Spotify, Ray Reaves is primed to share his original brand with audiences world-wide. Though fairly new to the Canadian music scene, Reaves already has a 2018 performance at Hopscotch Halifax Festival under his belt, as well as a return stateside to perform for a hometown Atlanta crowd at A3C 2018. When asked about his sound, Ray states, "I'm sad and I rap good. I guess that's why people like my music. Everyone's a little bit sad sometimes and people like to dance to what they can relate to.” And true to his word, Reaves’ engaging performance style fluidly shapes and delivers all the feels and vibes that audiences crave. His next EP release, aptly named Spring Showers, is scheduled for March 21 to coincide with the first day of Spring 2019.
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