Rayvon Owen
Photo: Shannon Bray
Growing up African-American and gay in a super conservative and religious Southern region, Rayvon Owen struggled with his own identity and liberal views. Ultimately, it was also the driving force that shaped him into an incredible artist and activist who campaigns for LGBTQ rights, Black Lives Matter, and for people to accept and love themselves and others around them.
After moving to LA, the death of a close friend struggling to come to terms with their own identity shattered Rayvon and had him contemplating his own true self. Around the same time, he fell in love, and those two events seemed to Rayvon like the universe was trying to tell him something.
So, when Rayvon released his first track “Can’t Fight It,” he also chose the occasion to come out as gay in the video. Despite losing some people from his life, he’s said that the outpouring of support he received was overwhelming: “Coming out and accepting myself for who I am was one of the most liberating and life-changing experiences for me.”
Today, he’s living his dream making music in LA and hanging out with Demi Lovato, DMC, and mentor Lionel Richie (check out his star-studded Insta!).
Rayvon’s new track, “Volume” is another insight into his journey of discovery. It’s a self-empowerment anthem that urges you to embrace who you are, reminding you not to change for anyone. As Rayvon explains, “When I co-wrote “Volume,” I had been going through some difficult times with being accepted by friends, family, the music industry, and yes—even myself. Working with co-writers and producers The Gifted on this song was inspiring, and the writing process was very therapeutic for me. The lyrics morphed into an anthem about self-encouragement and reminded me to stay true to who I was and never be afraid to speak up for what I believe in. I hope this song does the same for you.”
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Check out Rayvon Owen’s “Volume” on soundcloud.com/rayvonowen/volume, and follow him @rayvonowen.