Arin Ray’s approach to relationships and making music is strikingly similar. As he puts it, “I have no reason to not show you who I am.” His emotionally open songs often crystallize romantic moments and explore the deeply rooted dynamics within them. While the Cincinnati-born, L.A.-based singer’s perspective has matured, the same themes have dominated his work since his 2016 debut EP Phases and continued through his 2018 studio album Platinum Fire—boasting features from YG, Ty Dolla $ign, and DRAM) and subsequent high-water marks like his Kehlani collaboration “Change” (50 million Spotify streams and counting). Coming on the heels of a couple of appearances on The X Factor earlier in the decade, these releases introduced him as a fully formed artist, showcasing his seasoned, pliable tenor and emotionally resonant lyrics over sophisticated production.