ALEX RAY IS ALL THE RAGE IN NEW SINGLE “BOY YOU AIN’T”
With her newest release, “BOY YOU AIN’T,” Alex Ray beautifully captures the emotions of what it is like to break yourself free of a toxic relationship — and discovering the fling serves no purpose to oneself. It combines raw and powerful emotion with intoxicating vocals and rock elements, making “BOY YOU AIN’T” a must-add to all playlists. The track is accompanied by a music video, which became Ray’s first song to possess one.
Graphic by Paige Firsten / Crave Music Magazine
A Nashville-born music powerhouse, Ray began her songwriting career when she was a young girl. Growing up around all things music and attending a multitude of concerts, Ray gained thousands of subscribers on her YouTube channel documenting her favorite artists and eventually released her debut single “thinkin we should talk” in 2022.
With her first EP set to release this fall, Ray’s powerful voice and inspiring lyrics continue to resonate heavily with listeners, as she expresses her experience with bipolar disorder.
“BOY YOU AIN’T” starts with Ray leaving her ex a “Dear John” letter — one that lists all of the things that went wrong with their relationship and that she is over him. Throughout the intro and verses, Ray sings about what she endured; her soothing voice strung overtop of a trap-inspired instrumental with a dark melody. The intro details all the things that Ray experienced during her time with him, and expresses how she felt unsatisfied and lied to.
“You gotta be insane / to fix what you made it / boy but you ain’t shit,” Ray sings, making it clear to the ex that she is not willing to see him again. The chorus is kept short and sweet, symbolic to how Ray was left unsatisfied during more intimate activities mentioned in the intro.
Leading into the chorus, Ray allows listeners to relate to her experience, and shout with her about failed relationships that they may have also experienced. The track then kicks into a female rage rock anthem, with Ray’s vocals funneling her anger over the relationship accompanied by the striking rock instrumental.
“BOY YOU AIN’T” is an experimental masterpiece, merging together the synth instrumentals and classic rock drums. Ray rejects the compliance with one genre, and strives to create a different and fresh sound with her music. Ray’s sound develops with each release, but she remains true to always expressing her raw emotions.
