Arin Ray is a progressive R&B artist known for his yearning tenor and insightful songwriting. The Cincinnati-raised, Los Angeles based singer came to nationwide attention as a competitor on The X Factor in the early 2010s. Although he found himself back at square one following that exposure, he established himself as a writer for names like Jason Derulo and K. Michelle, then signed a solo contract with Interscope, eventually releasing the albums Platinum Fire (2018) and Hello Poison (2022) through the major label. After the third volume in his Phases series of EPs (2023), Ray went independent, issuing "Both of Us" in 2026. During the first season of The X Factor in 2011, the Cincinnati native was eliminated as a member of the bootcamp-stage group Intensity. He returned on his own in 2012 for the second season, mentored by Britney Spears, and finished tenth. Ray relocated to Los Angeles in 2013, the year he self-released the single "Turn It Up," and within a couple years had co-written songs for Jason Derulo ("Love Like That") and Chris Brown ("KAE"). Ray resumed solo work with the Phases EP in 2016, the same year he was credited with co-writing material for the likes of K. Michelle (the charting single "Ain't You"), Ro James ("Ride"), DJ Mustard ("Another Summer"), and Jahkoy ("Don't Stop the Vibe"). In 2018, Ray made his major-label debut on Interscope with Platinum Fire. The album was driven by collaborations with DRAM and Ty Dolla $ign, featured respectively on "Communication" and "Take," and contained additional guest appearances from the likes of Terrace Martin, Nez & Rio, and Childish Major. A deluxe version of Platinum Fire followed later that year and added three more songs including "Always" featuring Babyface. Just before the end of the decade, Ray came back Phases II, led by "Changes," a duet with Kehlani. It would be over two years before Ray returned with new material in the form of seductive single "The Mood" featuring D Smoke. It arrived on Interscope in April 2022, just two months before it showed up on Ray's second long-player, Hello Poison. Blxst assisted on the standout slow jam "Bad Idea," while VanJess and Ari Lennox, along with a few returning collaborators, also contributed to the set. Ray delivered Phases III in October 2023. Longer and less collaborative than the previous Phases EPs, the 11-track release was highlighted by a couple of Ray's sleekest ballads, "Moonlight" and "Wait So Long." Ray was featured on tracks by Terrace Martin ("Solo") and Lily Massie ("Believe"), then issued his first post-Interscope single, "Both of Us," in 2026. - Biography by Andy Kellman