Ray Leslie is certainly on her way! This latest single I Still Love You is a great mark of studio nouse and commercial savvy for a breezy rap single with a whimsical twist that’s going to draw in a lot of people.

Ray has a waif-like aura about her. This doesn’t mean vulnerability in the blatant sense, more a case of someone who’s been through more than their tender years would imply – and being wickle at the same time. This track features Crystal Chen, and is a great, Pacific Rap blend of light-hearted raps that tell a not so light-hearted tale, and some tactical singing dropped in at the required points. The two of them have an obvious connection in the performance field.

As to what it’s about, the EPK can reveal all: “… an intimate chapter in her story with this perfect depiction of another side to Ray – one riddled with angst and trauma, nostalgic, and hopeless in love, ‘I Still Love You’ FEAT. Crystal Chen is a sentimental love song expressing contrasting emotions of pain and pleasure as she sings:“….that summer my best so far, so yeah you messed me up but that was fun babe…”

Ray explains: “That line is exactly what this song is essentially about, cementing the idea that while it was tumultuous and painful at times, it was still really  fun.. I’m a romantic, and I guess no matter how old I’ll get, I feel like I’ll still love like it’s the first time.”

The studio work is subtle and pointedly easy-going. It’s a lower mid-tempo beat with some nice loops dropped in here and there for a really sweet ambience to the tale. Check out the You Tube video, which I won’t add spoilers for, but I will tell you it’s a really nice, flowing storyline vid. It is definitely going to be picked up on Juice TV and I hope overseas takes hold of it too, because it’s got international legs.

Ray and her project the Light Beings Network are at Cassette Nine tomorrow night (Saturday 22nd June) to launch her new EP Fantasy & Future. The tracks I have heard are top drawer stuff. This is a surefire hit. It’ll be on 95bFM, RDU, RadioActive, Mai FM, ZM, More FM, and on and on. If light hip-hop with biographical tilts is you, Ray Leslie is your artist. I implore you to check her music out.

A star is rising.