(December 6, 2022) There is something to be admired when an artist pursues subject matter designed to help lead one’s self to live life to the fullest. Singer/songwriter Ray Curenton continues searching what defines spirituality and finding personal peace. Driven by inspirational artists from Fred Hammond to The New York Community Choir, Curenton feels there is an audience seeking to further their faith outside the traditional church protocol. And that has been Curenton’s mission statement since the Nashville resident’s debut Cardiac Arrest in 2012. His introduction to First Listen, “Make It with Me,” encouraged those who struggle with their faith while running their spiritual race.
Keeping faith and humanity at the forefront of his artistry, Ray Curenton’s sophomore First Listen features his latest single, “Knowledge,” which echoes the quiet Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis soundtracks from the eighties and nineties. The keyboards from Malcolm Dean and Brandon Adams’ production supply an unobtrusive yet essential backdrop that gives way to a gorgeous wall of Curenton’s gentle voices.
And “Knowledge” has a lot to soak in, such as the ‘how to’s of the importance of gifts we possess: “I treasure every gift that stimulates and encourages my play/Requesting that I take part in the advancement of this human brain.” The next step to Curenton’s intriguing spiritual enlightenment will be released in 2023 with The Last Shall Be the First. Meanwhile, take a critical listen to “Knowledge.”
By Peggy Oliver
Ray Curenton – “Knowledge”
