The Ugandan-born singer-songwriter, although shy as a child, was able to find his voice through music during his time at school. “I was always singing from when I was young,” Ray recalled. His diverse discography, compiled of hip hop, R&B, indie pop, and soul, was heavily influenced by artists such as Usher, Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran.
His career began to take off when he started busking in 2017 on Northumberland Street, singing covers and his own music. Busking is still something central to his music career, as after finishing a song, he performs it live for the public. He remarked that it “feels like the final step to me because it is like you are giving it away now and they can give their energy back”.
Victor’s dedication to sharing his passion for music has certainly paid off with, with videos of him singing songs such as Hozier’s 'Take Me To Church' amassing millions of views. Since 2021 he has remained committed to uploading weekly and he now has 3.2 million followers on the platform. He stated, “as soon as I did go viral, it’s like all that hard work had paid off”.
His career has repeatedly seen him make milestone after milestone for himself. He truly has proven that he lives up to the title of Future Artist of the Month (in December 2024) bestowed upon him by BBC Radio 1. This is evident by various accomplishments, including selling out London’s KOKO, being on the cover of Wonderland magazine, and touring with Teddy Swims. These achievements are a testament to Victor’s motivation to create an impressive image and legacy, characterised, he says, by how “all of my songs are from real experiences”.
When asked about what creating songs means to him, he responded, “I feel like they speak to me in a way that words can’t”. He is currently signed with Decca Records and on 11 April 2025 he released his fourth EP I WILL, which is a record that uses powerful vocals in accompaniment with hip hop influences. The EP portrays an autobiographical account of past experiences in Victor’s life that have him reflecting on the past and looking towards the future, having learned from these experiences. He said, “the more honest that you are, the more that it can connect with people”, and that is a sentiment that is evident in the record.
I WILL includes his current single ‘Hearts Break and People Change’, produced by Jack Tench. When asked what inspired him to write the song, he said, “my trust was broken, and I did not realise that this person could do something like that”. The track opens with orchestral humming, then channels a steady soulful rhythm interlaced with poignant lyrics that focus on the inner turmoil of a fractious relationship with a former friend. The vocals and tempo only build in strength as the chorus draws near, with emphatic piano notes and strings, proceeding in the bridge helping to heighten the ferocity of Ray's vulnerable lyrics.
The lead single of the EP is 'Sticks and Stones', produced by Owen Cutts, is an equally personal song that highlights his perseverance through growing up as a black kid in Newcastle as he is trying to pursue his dreams in the music industry. Kojey Radical and Strandz feature on the track, adding elements of reverb and spoken word, which champions the message of overcoming self-doubt.
As the interview concluded, I asked Victor Ray what his ambitions are for his growing career. He had this to say: “Where I am now, being able to tour in Australia and go to the US and being there. That was probably what I’d say like five years ago… I want to be the biggest artist in the world, I want to be travelling the world, I want my music to reach as many people as it can”. With the trajectory of his career, these are goals that Victor is absolutely getting closer to.