Michael Ray Teases New Songs: ‘I Can’t Wait For Y’all To Hear These’
Ray’s next project will serve as the follow-up to 2021’s ‘Higher Education.’
Michael Ray; Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Michael Ray fans, get excited because the Florida native is gearing up to release new music.
While an official release date has yet to be announced, the chart-topping artist is hard at work on his next set of tunes. According to his latest social media post, the new songs will be coming sometime this year.
“Listening to these new songs. Getting me excited for things coming up this year,” he wrote on Twitter.
He also added, “I can’t wait for y’all to hear these.”
Ray’s next project will follow the release of 2021’s Higher Education EP. In a recent interview with Everything Nash, Ray dished on what fans can expect from the upcoming release.
“We just cut six songs,” Ray shared. “We started cutting with Michael Knox. This whole process has been exactly how I’ve always wanted to cut a record, being able to really dive into some stuff that I feel like people have been waiting for me to put out for a few years. And, touch on some subjects I touched on, but also have some influences of what I grew up with.”
As a longtime fan of ‘90s country, Ray says those influences will, without a doubt, be represented within his new music.
“You’re gonna hear a lot of Allman Brothers, a lot of Skynyrd, and a lot of traditional country music mixed with ’90s country music,” he went on to say. “We just took a lot of different eras that I was influenced by and put them together. It’s by far the most excited I’ve been about putting a record out.”
Ray also hinted that the new album will feature a surprising collaboration.
“We’re working on one right now,” Ray told Everything Nash. “It would be a big one. No one’s expecting it, It’s 90 percent there. If it happens, no one’s gonna see it coming.”
A year ago, Michael Ray was celebrating the success of his latest No.1 hit, “Whiskey and Rain.” Co-written by Josh Thompson and Jesse Frasure, the track became Ray’s fourth No.1 at country radio.
The moment it topped the charts was quite emotional for Ray.
“Y’all I gotta be real. It’s been an emotional one today,” he acknowledged in his social media post. “Back when we were recording this song I would think about all the things I always loved about @garyallanmusic and the way his music spoke to me and my life growing up in Eustis. I hope this song has been there for you on lonely nights when you’ve needed it, just like Gary always has been for me. One of my favorites of his goes, ‘life ain’t always beautiful… but it’s a beautiful ride.’ Thank y’all for this beautiful ride!!! Thank y’all for loving this song!!! We ain’t slowing down!!! 🥃🌧”
“Whiskey and Rain” was one of the Top 25 most-played songs on the Mediabase Country Airplay chart in 2022. Ray said the success of the song “fires me up for new music in 2023.”
While fans await the official announcement of new music from Michael Ray, they can catch him on the road as he has several tour dates planned for the new year.
He’s also slated to perform at Barefoot Country Music Festival in Wildwood, New Jersey later this summer.
A full list of Michael Ray’s upcoming tour dates can be viewed here.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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