Ray BLK: Difference between revisions
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| background = solo_singer |
| background = solo_singer |
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| birth_name = Rita Ekwere |
| birth_name = Rita Ekwere |
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| alias = |
| alias = Ray Blizzy |
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| birth_date = <!-- {{birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> {{Birth year and age|1993|08}} |
| birth_date = <!-- {{birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> {{Birth year and age|1993|08}} |
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Ray released her first recordings while studying for her English degree.<ref name="bbc1"/> Her debut EP ''Havisham'' was released in 2015.<ref name="bbc2"/> Inspired by [[Miss Havisham]]'s story in Charles Dickens' ''[[Great Expectations]]'', it told the tale of a girl who turns against men after having her heart broken.<ref name="bbc2"/> According to Ray "I felt like Miss Havisham was like a lot of women around me, who got their heart broken and turned cold and began to hate men."<ref name="bbc2"/> Ray releases music on her own label and has avoided signing a record deal in order to retain the rights to her music.<ref name="bbc2"/> In 2016 she self-released her debut mini album ''Durt'', featuring collaborations with [[Stormzy]], [[Wretch 32]] and [[SG Lewis]].<ref name="bbc3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/122FSRNWPpZclwy6Xt1DySs/1st-ray-blk|title=BBC Music Sound of, 2017 - 1st Ray BLK|publisher=BBC Music|date=}}</ref> Her single "My Hood" is a song about her home town of Catford. She wrote it at a time when she had just been robbed, and she felt like she just wanted to leave.<ref name="bbc2"/> |
Ray released her first recordings while studying for her English degree.<ref name="bbc1"/> Her debut EP ''Havisham'' was released in 2015.<ref name="bbc2"/> Inspired by [[Miss Havisham]]'s story in Charles Dickens' ''[[Great Expectations]]'', it told the tale of a girl who turns against men after having her heart broken.<ref name="bbc2"/> According to Ray "I felt like Miss Havisham was like a lot of women around me, who got their heart broken and turned cold and began to hate men."<ref name="bbc2"/> Ray releases music on her own label and has avoided signing a record deal in order to retain the rights to her music.<ref name="bbc2"/> In 2016 she self-released her debut mini album ''Durt'', featuring collaborations with [[Stormzy]], [[Wretch 32]] and [[SG Lewis]].<ref name="bbc3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/122FSRNWPpZclwy6Xt1DySs/1st-ray-blk|title=BBC Music Sound of, 2017 - 1st Ray BLK|publisher=BBC Music|date=}}</ref> Her single "My Hood" is a song about her home town of Catford. She wrote it at a time when she had just been robbed, and she felt like she just wanted to leave.<ref name="bbc2"/> |
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On 6 January 2017, Ray was announced as the winner of the [[Sound of...|BBC's Sound Of 2017]].<ref name="bbc1"/> |
She was nominated for best newcomer at the 2016 [[MOBO Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.londonnewsonline.co.uk/14716/ray-blk-bags-ticket-stardom-bbc-sound-2017-award/|title=Ray Blk bags a ticket to stardom with BBC Sound of 2017 award|publisher=London News Online|date=6 January 2017}}</ref> On 6 January 2017, Ray was announced as the winner of the [[Sound of...|BBC's Sound Of 2017]].<ref name="bbc1"/> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 17:58, 6 January 2017
Ray BLK | |
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| Birth name | Rita Ekwere |
| Also known as | Ray Blizzy |
| Born | August 1993 (age 31) |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2015–present |
Rita Ekwere (born August 1993),[1] better known under her stage name of Ray BLK, is a singer and songwriter who was born in Nigeria, and grew up in Catford in London.
Background
Ray BLK, whose real name is Rita Ekwere,[2] was born in Nigeria and came to London when she was about four.[3] She grew up in Catford.[3] At the age of 13 she formed a music group with her school friend MNEK called "New Found Content".[3] She studied for a degree in English literature at Brunel University, and her dissertation was on post-colonial Nigerian literature, focusing on the novels of Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Adichie.[3] She worked in an advertising agency to sustain her music career in its early days.[2]
Her stage surname BLK stands for Building Living Knowing, which she describes as her three main values.[4]
Music career
Ray released her first recordings while studying for her English degree.[2] Her debut EP Havisham was released in 2015.[3] Inspired by Miss Havisham's story in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, it told the tale of a girl who turns against men after having her heart broken.[3] According to Ray "I felt like Miss Havisham was like a lot of women around me, who got their heart broken and turned cold and began to hate men."[3] Ray releases music on her own label and has avoided signing a record deal in order to retain the rights to her music.[3] In 2016 she self-released her debut mini album Durt, featuring collaborations with Stormzy, Wretch 32 and SG Lewis.[4] Her single "My Hood" is a song about her home town of Catford. She wrote it at a time when she had just been robbed, and she felt like she just wanted to leave.[3]
She was nominated for best newcomer at the 2016 MOBO Awards.[5] On 6 January 2017, Ray was announced as the winner of the BBC's Sound Of 2017.[2]
References
- ^ "Rita Ekwere". Companies House. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ^ a b c d Mark Savage (6 January 2016). "Sound of 2017: Unsigned soul singer Ray BLK wins". BBC News.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mark Savage (6 January 2016). "BBC Sound of 2017: Ray BLK interview". BBC News.
- ^ a b "BBC Music Sound of, 2017 - 1st Ray BLK". BBC Music.
- ^ "Ray Blk bags a ticket to stardom with BBC Sound of 2017 award". London News Online. 6 January 2017.