Lady Wray just came out with her latest album, Cover Girl, an amalgam of ’60s soul, hip-hop, and gospel exclusively produced by Leon Michels. Her decade-long musical partnership with Michels has crystallized into a solid second act for Wray, who came along in the ’90s as the young R&B marvel Nicole Wray. Back then Missy Elliott signed her as the first artist on her Goldmind Inc. label and they were the future of R&B. As Lady Wray, the California native has distinguished herself by remixing sounds from the past. The sounds of Cover Girl are not reheated tropes but a study in jubilation. Wray and Michels do a hip-hop inspired tribute to The Clark Sisters on “Hard Times,” which is really a remix of their gospel classic “You Brought The Sunshine.” Wray channels vintage R&B flavor to make something old and new at the same time. “Where Could I Be” has some of the lurching drama of Screaming’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put A Spell On You” but Wray is firm in her gospel repertoire and pulls up a song of survival from a place of exhaustion. She spoke on that focus with Cover Girl in a press statement.
“I’ve gravitated more towards love and self-care with this album. Piece of Me was realizing that I was going to be a mother and all those feelings were on my heart. Now I’m able to sit back and be a real boss. I got my career, my motherhood, and my marriage by the horns. I’ve grown into this more self-aware and beautiful flower for Cover Girl.”
Wray and Michels have cultivated a sound that brings up nostalgia, kind of like Leon Bridges debuting with Sam Cooke on his back and October London’s blatant embrace of Marvin Gaye. Wray has tapped that foundational music from the past longer and her personality won’t allow her to be in the shadow of a particular singer. Cover Girl digs into heritage sounds but the album is very much a 2025 release from Wray’s unique voice. Check out the stream and see if your city is on her North American tour list this fall.
Tour Dates
10/7 – Montreal, QC @ Bar le Riz
10/8 – Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
10/14 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
11/6 – San Diego, CA, CA @ Quartyard
11/7 – Riverside, CA @ Farm House Collective
11/8 – Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room
11/9 – San Francisco @ The Chapel
11/11 – Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater
11/12 – Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl
