Ray BLK talks early songwriting, getting advice from Stormzy, the inspiration of Amy Winehouse and crying in her room to Avril Lavigne! Ray BLK, real name Rita Ekwere, grew up in South London. She self released two EPs before becoming the first unsigned artist to win the BBC's Sound Of in 2017. She’s collaborated with MNEK, Gorillaz and Stormzy. Her latest project, Empress, is all about female empowerment. The BRITs That Made Me is a Somethin’ Else production for the BPI.