Gretta Ray
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Australian singer-songwriter Gretta Ray unveils her latest single, “Roses,” a heartfelt reflection on her deep connection to London and the longing to return amidst the challenges of the pandemic. Co-written with collaborator Gab Strum, “Roses” is lifted from ‘Positive Spin +’ an extended version of her second album, and captures the essence of optimism tinged with melancholy, embodying Ray’s lush and expansive sound.
During the lockdowns of 2020, Ray found solace in creative collaboration with Strum, resulting in the creation of “Roses.” The song, adorned with layered vocals echoing the refrain “it’s all coming up roses,” paints a vivid picture of her affection for London and the nostalgia for the version of herself the city inspires.
Recorded between home studios and Purple Wayne Studios in Collingwood, “Roses” underwent meticulous crafting under the guidance of producer Strum and vocal engineer Hamish Patrick. Expressing her excitement about the release, Ray shares, “I have been wanting to share ‘Roses’ with my fans for so long. This warm and optimistic song has always belonged on a version of ‘Positive Spin.’ I’m very excited for everyone to hear the final version, especially my UK fans, seeing as the song is about London.”
Gretta Ray’s journey from winning Triple J Unearthed in 2016 to being awarded the Vanda and Young Global Songwriting Prize marks an extraordinary beginning to her career. Her debut album, “Begin to Look Around,” released in 2021, earned nominations for both an ARIA Music Award (Breakthrough Artist – Release) and a J Award (Australian Album of the Year). This was followed by a sold-out headlining tour in 2022, an Australian arena tour supporting Gang of Youths, and a viral moment sparked by her poignant and breathtaking cover of Billy Joel’s “Vienna” on TikTok. This cover has amassed over 20 million streams, 350 million views, 35 million likes, and half a million shares across social media platforms globally.
Continuing her success, Gretta toured her sophomore album to packed out theatres in Australia followed by a UK tour supporting Maisie Peters which ended in a final show at Wembley Arena. “Positive Spin,” earned recognition with a shortlisting for the Australian Music Prize and another J Award nomination (Australian Album of the Year). Additionally, her single “Heartbreak Baby” has received a nomination for Song of the Year in the 2024 APRA Music Awards.