Born from a pressing desire to write about freedom, the song straddles two different images to represent its multifaceted titular concept with compelling nuance. The verse starts as a meditation on the loss of young lives in America, questioning the justice of the Ferguson unrest. Then, Rayon moves on to the plight of a little refugee girl, who he describes as having ‘lost her crown’. Musically immersive, ‘Freedom’ is awash with canny melodies and warm vocals that run the gamut of influences from soul through to ambitious experimental pop; a church organ, tambourine, and soul-tinged vocal lend it a gospel feel, but with Rayon’s rich lyricism and the understated elegance of his production, it transcends these labels to become a beatific and humane reflection on freedom in dark times. It is mixed and mastered by Alberto Coin.
“Indie-soul that thrives on a sense of common humanity…” CLASH
“As captivating as they come” Hillydilly
More Read
“A champion of smooth emotion” Somewhere Soul
Rayon Nelson’s voice makes you stand back and exclaim, “wow.” Bandcamp Daily
“deeply moving, stylish tones” Music Crowns
About Rayon Nelson
Lauded for his captivating and soulful vocals, Rayon Nelson has achieved remarkable status for an independent artist. With eclectic influences from Jamaica, London and Suffolk, his music presents an inspirational and compassionate lyricism, set often to a sonic backdrop which encompasses a broad fusion of styles. Shaped by early exposure to an array of different music such as reggae, old school gospel and soul from artists including Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and Lauryn Hill, Rayon Nelson’s work is a matchless synthesis of the styles and vibes that formed him. He was shortlisted for Glastonbury festival, performed at Isle Of Wight Festival, and often featured on BBC Introducing and BBC 1Xtra whilst remaining unsigned. His latest EP ‘Yung Solo’ has attracted over 380k streams on Spotify, and has been featured in numerous blogs such as Hilly Dilly while attracting major industry interest. After a one year hiatus, Rayon is set to release refreshing new music and intends to firmly make his mark in the music industry this year.
See Rayon Nelson live
16th May: Sofar Sounds (Orbit Sound UK)
30th May: (EP Launch) Venue tbc
3rd June: Concrete Shoreditch, London
Social media
https://www.rayonsofficialmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/rayonsofficialmusic
https://x.com/rayonnelson
https://www.instagram.com/rayonnelson
