Arin Ray

Ask Arin Ray what he’s proudest of in his career and he’ll say, “Still having one, honestly.” At 30, the Cincinnati singer, songwriter, and producer has already spent half his life in music. After first finding fame on The X Factor, he built a new path through lush, emotionally precise R&B, vivid songwriting, and a supple voice that can float into falsetto without forcing the moment. His songs keep circling love, especially the cost of getting it wrong. Now newly independent, Arin is entering a softer, freer chapter. His new single “Sweet Thang” is out now, riding breezy guitar and mellow percussion into a warm summer groove made for flirting, day parties, and the feeling of finally being able to breathe again. With LIMBO on the way, he’s clearing his chest before the next full-length era. LIMBO also reflects the years when some of this music was first imagined, during a stretch when momentum slowed and his future with his former label felt uncertain. After writing for Jason Derulo, Mustard, Chris Brown, Jeremih, and Omarion, and releasing projects like Phases, Platinum Fire, Hello Poison, and Phases III, Arin is back in motion on his own terms. The music feels intimate, but the vision is bigger than the confines of R&B.