Ray BLK on making her acting debut in Champion, navigating the music industry, and overcoming imposter syndrome

However, whenever she’s feeling overwhelmed, Ray simply reminds herself of how far she’s come and the opportunities she has earned for herself. “This role started with a couple of songs, and it grew to what it is because the tracks spoke for themselves. So that should be enough to let me know that I’m supposed to be here,” she notes, being her own champion. “It’s about believing in the source that you have within yourself and just knowing that if you do your best, you will be the best.”

Alongside shining a spotlight on the industry, Champion also calls attention to real-life issues that impact the Black British community. In the opening episode, rapper Bosco, who is newly released from prison, can be seen enjoying a laid back birthday celebration in the garden with his family and friends. As his daughter sings “Happy Birthday” to him, the police kick down the gate and disrupt the party. Citing a “noise complaint,” they say Bosco is in breach of the terms of release and, during a scuffle, he’s brought away from the celebrations in handcuffs. For Ray, the entire scene holds a mirror up to the harsh realities devastating the community. “When we see a lot of negative media around ‘young, Black men’ and whatnot, we forget they are someone’s brother, partner, son. They’re having to experience that injustice as a family,” she reflects. “In the real world, we wouldn’t see that Bosco did absolutely nothing and was celebrating his birthday with his family. What we would see is ‘Black rapper in cuffs.’ It’s important to tell the other side.”

At the heart of Champion’s storylines lies the music. The opening scenes of the show feature So Solid Crew’s 21 Seconds and later on we hear a cover of Sugababes’ Overload. These nostalgic hits anchor the series and set the tone. We are also introduced to new, original music, courtesy of Ray. The singer’s personal highlight comes in the form of her self-penned song “Shades of Blue,” which is performed on the show by a vulnerable Vita. “One of the lines in the song is, ‘Like the moon in the afternoon, can you even see me?’ and another is ‘I know I’m a star, I’m just lost in the galaxy,’” Ray shares. “We’ve all experienced moments of feeling like we’re in the shadows, so I ended up getting really emotionally attached to that song while writing it.”

As our conversation nears its end, Ray fills me in on what lies ahead for her. “Last year, everything was about Champion. It was great to step away from the world of Ray BLK and just be in this. Now, I’ll be stepping back into my own music,” she explains. When it comes to officially closing her Champion chapter, Ray’s one wish is that the series will make an impact with its audience. Signing off, she tells me: “I hope the show will create change and that some learning can come from it.”