Ray hopes his latest song, “Genesis,” helps listeners embrace their imperfections.
The 26-year-old Brit Award-winning star released the single last week and revealed that she uses the song to encourage people to embrace their anxieties.
Speaking on the Capital Extra Evening Show with Camilla Rose, she said: “I just wanted to be really transparent and open about this.
“And we're all thinking these things and we're all battling these things in our heads. And I'm going to be the first to say who I am right now, so I released this song.”
“When I take a picture, I think, 'Oh, if only I could be a little more sucked in,' or 'If only my jaw looked a little more angular from this angle.'”
“It's the insecurities that we all feel about ourselves and stuff like that, so I think it's also pretty liberating to be so open about it.
“Then they're like, 'Oh, I edit my photos sometimes.'”
“That feels good to say.”
Upon releasing the single, the “Escapeism” hitmaker said the seven-minute track was ” [she] I was able to find myself.”
She explained in a statement, “There's a quote from Nina Simone that says, 'It is an artist's duty to reflect the times.' These words mean everything to me and I believe the best way I can express this is through my art and music.”
“There's so much darkness and pain in the world we live in. I wanted to create something as deeply personal and raw as possible, about my own heart and the world around me.”
She added: “This song is a seven-minute piece that I've been crafting and examining for the last year and a half. I've experimented with different genres and sonic expressions, but underneath all the layers and lyrics there is an underlying message: 'Let there be light.'”
“This is a prayer, a plea, a cry for help. I sincerely hope that this song can give a little hope to those who need it most, just as it has given me hope.”