Gemma Ray

Gemma Ray
Gemma Ray performing live
Background information
Genres	torch song psychedelia, noir-pop, sideways blues, gothic folk
Occupation(s)	Songwriter, guitarist, singer, film composer and producer
Labels	Bronze Rat – bronzerat.com
Website	gemmaray.tv

Gemma Ray is a British songwriter, guitarist, singer, film composer and producer.

Born in Basildon, Essex and raised in nearby Billericay, Ray has released six studio albums on the Bronze Rat label and has collaborated with artists including Sparks and Alan Vega.

Ray fuses many disparate genres, and has been given diverse tags such as “pop-noir”, “sideways blues”, and “gothic folk”.

Gemma Ray’s debut album, The Leader, was co-produced by Michael J Sheehy of the band Dream City Film Club. Released on 2 June 2008, it features the single ‘Hard Shoulder’ / ‘Name Your Lord’.

Unable to tour the album as a result of being struck down by illness, Ray wrote and recorded the album Lights Out Zoltar!

Following just a year on from her debut album, Ray’s distinctive sound which blends psychedelic noir-pop with a "wall-of-sound girl group backing" is evident on Lights Out Zoltar! Spin Magazine likened the album to "if Phil Spector forced his girl groups in a more noir-soundtrack direction, this might've been the result. Ray has a truly impressive feel for vintage pop flourishes, layered to lavish effect".

‘100mph (In 2nd Gear)’ from the album was released as a single on 23 August 2009.

Lights Out Zoltar! earned Ray an Independent Music Award. After seeing Ray perform live supporting Mott the Hoople in 2009, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page declared Gemma Ray “not to be missed!"

‘It’s A Shame About Gemma Ray’ features reworkings of songs by a diverse selection of artists including Sonic Youth, Buddy Holly and The Gun Club. Recorded over five days in New York, the songs are delivered in Ray's characteristic style of guitar playing and singing. The album was recorded at the studio of Heavy Trash's Matt Verta-Ray and was released on June 1, 2010.

In support of the album, Ray appeared as a special guest of the band Grinderman on their European tour in 2011. That same year saw the release of The Runaway EP, which featured the single ‘Runaway’ and also a cover of the The Shangri-Las song ‘Walking In The Sand’.