Gemma Ray

by The 2000s had their share of retro-soul and R&B acts, but British singer/songwriter Gemma Ray has a more complex M.O. than simply aping the greats. Reaching back to pre-Beatles rock for inspiration, but tossing in a jumble sale of influences as disparate as Tom Waits, Kate Bush, film scores, flamenco, and the sparkly indie pop of the ‘90s and 2000s, Ray has sculpted a sound that is familiar and warm, but appealingly off-kilter and full of noir-ish touches that are part homage, part pastiche. Ray released her first album, The Leader, in early 2008 on U.K. indie Bronzerat. Aloft on a cloud of positive reviews from the British press, she was about to embark on a tour when she became ill and had to cancel a passel of profile-raising shows. While recuperating, Ray wrote a batch of new songs and recorded them in a modest home studio with co-producer Michael J. Sheehy. The resulting Lights Out Zoltar!, released in late 2009, is an ambitious work that belies its homemade origins by boasting an expansive, concert hall sound. Ray has also provided songs to BBC