Grammy-nominated vocalist and composer Debo Ray has emerged as a full-force solo artist with the release of her electrifying self-titled debut album.
A vibrant mosaic of R&B, pop, jazz, afrobeat, hip-hop, and dance, these 10 tracks are an unapologetic celebration of identity, resilience, and creative freedom. It’s the culmination of a lifelong journey through music – one that spans church choirs, opera halls, international jazz festivals, and now, her own stage.
Raised in a Haitian-American family steeped in music, Debo began singing in her parents’ church at the age of four and trained classically through Boston’s renowned Handel & Haydn Society and New England Conservatory Prep School before earning her degree in Vocal Performance and Composition at Berklee College of Music. \
Her vocal range, both musically and emotionally, has since become her calling card.
Debo Ray is co-written with veteran songwriter Jerry Velona and produced by Grammy-winning engineer Prince Charles Alexander (Usher, Mary J. Blige, The Notorious B.I.G.), whose deft production brings both polish and punch to her powerhouse vocals and inventive arrangements.
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Each track explores a different facet of the human experience – from the punchy, hip-hop-infused flirtation of “Time With You,” to the defiant R&B groove of “Gaslight,” to the afrobeat bounce of “Money,” and the gospel-pop uplift of “Now You’re Here” which has already surpassed 155K streams on Spotify.
Lyrically, Debo writes from lived experience. Her voice moves effortlessly between intimate whispers and show-stopping belts, pulling listeners into each song’s world with fearless authenticity.
Beyond the studio, Debo is a seasoned performer with an international touring resume that includes appearances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Newport and Monterey Jazz Festivals, and the Hollywood Bowl. She is a longtime collaborator with NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington and a core member of Carrington’s GRAMMY-nominated ensemble Social Science. She’s also performed and recorded with Esperanza Spalding, Antonio Sanchez, Bobby McFerrin, and the Screaming Headless Torsos.
With this debut album, Debo Ray invites audiences into her multiverse. One where vulnerability meets power, where genres dissolve, and where music becomes a vessel for joy, healing, and self-discovery.
Debo Ray is available now on all major streaming platforms