Sometimes there’s no way around the hard times, but who said you can’t face them with a smile? Whether it’s the heartbreak that you’re facing or simply a common case of lockdown blues, you don’t want to miss this rising artist. Put on a fun monochromatic outfit, learn a couple of dance moves, and you’re ready to face it all with Don’t Make Me Miss You by Ray Dalton!
RAY DALTON – FROM FEATURING ARTIST TO FLYING SOLO
The name of this Seattle-born singer may not sound familiar to you yet. His voice, however, is one you are guaranteed to have heard before. Almost ten years ago now, he sang his way on top of the charts by featuring on Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ hit “Can’t Hold Us”. Similarly, he also sang the catchy chorus to Madcon’s “Don’t Worry” in 2015. Even before that, he joined the Total Experience Gospel Choir in Seattle as a teenager. With them, he got to tour the world and even sing for President Obama.
With these impressive successes under his belt, he’s proved himself more than capable of a solo career too. Forging his own path in the industry wasn’t easy, but 2020 gave Dalton a new opportunity to shine. His single “In My Bones” has accumulated more than 75 million streams, and made its way to top chart positions in countries such as France, Germany, Austria, Poland and Switzerland.
DON’T MAKE RAY DALTON MISS YOU
2021 now welcomes him again with “Don’t Make Me Miss You”. The song came out on January 8, together with a colourful music video. In it, Ray Dalton sings about guarding his heart from what looks like sure heartbreak.
“We have all been at a point in our lives where, blinded by love, we’ve gone into an unhealthy relationship. ‘Don’t Make Me Miss You’ is a love letter to the person you can’t get enough of but in the end it will never work – and you’re awfully aware of that fact. I call it my true love story anthem – I tend to always find myself in this position.”
Despite its somewhat discouraging lyrics, the song doesn’t dwell in its misery. Ray Dalton sings about love with pop melodies reminiscent of both soul classics of the 60s and modern heartbreak hits. Gospel sounds meet R&B and a modern production, all beautifully transmitted through Dalton’s powerful voice. He invites us to take both the sadness and joy that life gives us, and embrace it all in one. Through Ray Dalton’s soulful voice and infectious smile, “Don’t Make Me Miss You” teaches us to get through the hard times as best as we possibly can. And isn’t that just the perfect lesson to learn during these times?
HEARTBREAK IN ALL ITS COLOURS
The music video, directed by Jax Anderson, cannot of course go unmentioned. The singer, an actor, and two accompanying dancers transition from one monochromatic set to the next in matching outfits. Cheerful colours like yellow and green are juxtaposed with black and a more melancholic blue, only to meet in the middle at a neutral white for the chorus. It’s a perfect visual representation of the song itself. The choreography adds a welcome fun touch to the chorus. It’s easy for any fan to follow along and learn, and Ray Dalton himself has shared fun videos of him dancing along on his social media.
A lover of tennis, Serena Williams, tequila and Lady Gaga among others, Ray Dalton appears as a much-needed source of Vitamin D and candy for both our ears and our hearts. We cannot wait to hear what he has in store this 2021, and wish him many smiles to cure the broken hearts!
Pictures: © Sony Music
Text: Erola Puigsech Autonell
