Ray Laurél Releases Brooding New Single “SINNER” — A Dark, Mystical Descent Into Obsession

London’s rising alt-pop visionary Ray Laurél returns with “SINNER”, a blistering, distorted confession that twists desire, mythology, and self-destruction into their most electrifying release yet. Co-written and produced with Jonah Stevens (Little Simz, Stormzy, Doja Cat), the track drips with dangerous tension — where idealisation curdles into chaos, and the line between god and mess, sinner and saint, blurs completely.

Fresh off a run of standout singles and ahead of their headline show at The George Tavern next February, Ray continues to expand their world: a genre-elusive fusion of indie, soul, rock, mysticism, and raw emotional excavation. Born from jam sessions, childhood shed experiments, spiritual practice, and a mythic imagination that pulls equally from tarot and Twilight, “SINNER” captures the alchemy that has made Ray one of the UK’s most magnetic new voices — intimate, cinematic, and unafraid to dive into the shadows.

Below, Ray talks us through the making of the track, the mythopoetic forces behind their writing, and the ritualistic energy that fuels their live performances.

1. The track blends distorted guitars with your signature brooding vocals. How did working with Jonah Stevens influence the sonic direction, and what felt different about the creative process this time?

We are both really inspired by soul music - that’s kinda the bedrock of our musical relationship. ’Sinner’ was made from a jam - he laid down the drums & I started messing around on the guitar. We usually jam for an hour or two, without saying a word, and then like a month later - we zone in a section of the jam which just feels most exciting.

2. You weave in references from Twilight’s Cullens to tarot’s 10 of Cups. What role does mysticism – both personal and pop-cultural – play in how you tell stories through your music?

I believe we have disconnected from the mythopoetic way of life. There is a lesson in the elements, in the planets & in the stories we pass down- just like the story of the 10 of Cups. I reference these primordial forces as they are, in a way, a map of the soul - in which we can explore our inner worlds.

3. Your journey spans beat-making in a shed at 12, performing COLORs, and now a headline show at The George Tavern. How do you feel your identity and confidence as an artist have evolved through these milestones?

The only thing that feels real, is making music. And that feeling hasn’t changed since I was 12 - the rest is just smoke & mirrors.

4. You’ve spoken about concerts feeling like a kind of ceremony. As someone who’s also a trained shamanic practitioner, how does your spiritual practice influence the way you perform and connect with audiences?

I don’t necessarily think it’s me on that stage anymore, or certainly it’s not just me. It feels ritualistic. Like, I step out of myself and something else comes through. Music, and the essence of spirit are both invisible forces & I don’t think they are as separate as we believe.