The up-and-coming British R&B singer @rayblk will be joining our private invite-only Inspirational YOU.

Ray is the youngest of three children, Ray studied English Literature at west London’s Brunel University before briefly working in PR, and making music during her evenings and weekends. For six months, she didn’t sleep for more than five hours a night. In the past year, though, her hard work has begun to reap rewards: in December, the sultry “5050” was playlisted by BBC @bbc1xtra and @rinsestagram and since then she’s racked up over a million @SoundCloud plays, made her TV debut on BBC2’s Later… With #JoolsHolland, and been nominated for a MOBO award for Best Newcomer.

The London singer and rapper was recently named as the winner of BBC Music Sound of 2017.

Delivering the brash honesty of rap music, with her unique blend of soul and R&B spirit, Ray BLK weaves between genre boundaries borrowing the elements she requires to reach her goals. “I feel proud when my music connects with people,” says the 23-year-old from Catford, SouthLondon.

Ray, who has collaborated with grime star @stormzyofficial on My Hood, her tribute to Catford, south London, draws from the likes of #MissyElliott and Timbaland’s textured rap, along with R&B and pop. “I’m particularly proud to be a part of this year’s list, as it’s full of so much talent, some of whom are independent artists like myself,” she added, “which I really hope inspires the next generation of artists.”