Catford singer Ray BLK announces the release of debut album Access Denied

Catford-raised singer Ray BLK has announced the release of her long-awaited debut album, Access Denied.

The record, featuring Giggs, Stefflon Don, Kojey Radical, Suburban Plaza and Kaash Paige featuring will be put out on September 17, and features 14 songs.

Ray said: “Access Denied is for those who, like myself, know disappointment too well and have learned to create boundaries as a coping mechanism for self protection.

“I’ve opened up about how the childhood I had made me guarded, how disappointing relationships made me fear love and how being told no so many times in the music industry kicked me down, but I got back up.

“I want people to listen to this record and value themselves enough to deny access to those who are undeserving, and to also value themselves enough to keep believing in themselves when they’re denied access to certain spaces and say yes to themselves when the world tells them no.”

Lovesick, the first album’s first single, is an anthem for newly anointed savages who have decided to no longer settle.

She said: “It really is just about reclaiming your power in a relationship where the person has made you feel like you need them and has made you feel not good enough.”

Born in Nigeria, raised in Catford, Ray BLK’s musical journey began at the age of 8, when she started writing lyrics in school notebooks. By 13, she was writing her first work with school friend and future record producer and songwriter MNEK.

It was during this time she honed the introspective and sociopolitical writing she is so well known for.

It took several years and a English literature degree at university for her to release a mixtape of ripped beats entitled ‘Havisham’ – a hip-hop, R&B, and neo-soul hybrid inspired by the jilted Charles Dickens character.

It was then she adopted her stage name, taking ‘Ray’ from her surname and ‘BLK’, an acronym of her three most important values – building, living, and knowing.

The following year saw the release of Durt, Ray’s critically acclaimed first EP which featured collaborations with Stormzy, Wretch 32 and SG Lewis.

In January 2018, she signed to Island Records and later released her eight-track project Empress, with a strong female empowerment message in the title track, Got My Own and Girl Like Me.

In the hard-hitting Run Run, Ray references the youth violence that plagued her area, an issue she continues to be vocal on. Ray doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, from touching on domestic violence to partnering up with charities to do talks at schools about consent.

Ray has also faced obstacles in the industry as a black, dark skinned woman – another topic she has frequently and openly discussed.

She said: “It’s about being told no and always remembering to tell yourself yes.”

Speaking about what to expect on the album Ray said: “For those who joined during Empress, they’re gonna be like, whoa.

“For those who have been there since DURT they’re gonna be like, ‘Yes, she’s back.’” Fans will be able to pre-order the album from: https://RAYBLK.lnk.to/AccessDeniedPR