After signing to Island Records at the top of the year, Ray BLK apparently spent much of the first half of 2018 hard at work in the studio. The first post-signing release we got was the stunningly well-conceived "Run Run", a smart and impassioned breakdown of youth violence and police brutality.

"I say it how it is," she admits. "The music that I love is the stuff that gives it to you raw. Then you can really connect with it."

Now she's back with her new single "Empress", a soulful celebration of the achievements of WOC and women in general in a male-dominated world. The video that comes with was directed by award-winner Geej Ower (whom you may remember from BBC doc The Poets Will Be Heard) and was filmed in Charing Cross Theatre with appearances from Ray, Maya Jama, Julie Adenuga and Ray's friends.

Whether or not we can expect a new album this year remains to be seen, but two big singles one after another could possibly mean there will be an album. We can hope.