Lil Nas X, Lindsey Buckingham and Low: October’s best album reviews
Ray BLK: Access Denied review – an unabashedly mainstream debut
August 2021
Ray BLK: ‘A song is like writing in my diary. It’s cathartic’
Ahead of her hotly anticipated first album, the singer talks of growing up in south London, the influence of classic R&B – and her eye-opening X Factor audition
June 2020
Ray BLK accuses rapper Ambush Buzzworl of sexual assault
Singer said he grabbed her breast and that she was advised to stay quiet to protect his career
January 2019
2019 arts preview
Pop, punk and protest songs: the hottest music on the horizon in 2019
With the uproarious Idles hitting the road, Kamasi Washington play a mind-expanding UK show, and new albums from the Specials, Weezer and AJ Tracey, here are the sounds the new year will be shaking to
October 2018
Ray BLK: Empress review – a sweet, street debut
(Island)
March 2017
Ray BLK review – fresh and fiercely local
BBC Sound of 2017 winner Ray BLK is the full joyous package – complete with Stormzy on backing vocals
February 2017
Ray BLK review – shimmering, self-assured R&B theatrics
The winner of the BBC Sound of 2017 poll deftly mixes aspirational songwriting with inspirational heroic
The crush
Why I love… singer Ray BLK
Her voice is the sound of my youth, my city and my heart
‘The music industry is brutal’: Rag’n’Bone Man and RAY BLK on being 2017’s most hotly tipped
They’re both facing the pressure of massive expectation – so what can the winner of the BBC Sound of … and the Brits Critics’ Choice learn from each other
January 2017
Why pop’s future is black and British
Kitty Empire
Ray BLK’s triumph in the BBC’s Sound of 2017 poll underlines the dominance of UK R&B
Music blog
Ray BLK's BBC Music Sound of 2017 win recognises diversity of British pop
At last, one of the new artist awards goes to someone who isn’t another safe, milquetoast offering
Ray BLK named winner of BBC Music Sound of 2017
Following in the footsteps of Adele and Ellie Goulding, the London singer and rapper tops the annual list of artists to watch this year
November 2016
The future 50: the rising music stars to look out for
From squat rock to laptop futurism, 2016’s most creative music is being made away from focus groups, major labels and publicists. Meet the most exciting independent minds in music
May 2016
This week's new tracks
RAY BLK ft Stormzy: the best of this week’s new music
RAY BLK ft Stormzy | The 1975 | The Coral | Goat | Dylan Evans
