Raylee Forest Makes Magic with Debut EP “My World”

How the avant-garde artist’s dark pop aesthetic shines in her first multi-track project

Fantastical motifs lyrically and musically permeate Raylee Forest’s latest EP “My World”, released on June 7. The Chinese-American artist’s five-track project, produced by Grammy-Award winner Isha Erskine (Maroon 5, Ziggy Marley), presents such a strong, enchanted aesthetic that the world in question is unmistakably one of fairies, witches, and pure magic.

Forest’s expansive and unique cultural background is traceable in her sound. It blends the baroque sentimentality of East Asian pop ballads, especially in the haunting last track, “Dream Walker”. Yet she is also “deeply inspired by classical greats like Beethoven and Chopin”, with grandiose and orchestral tracks “Let Them Out”.

“My World” is unafraid of blending genres, with “pop, disco, metal, and trip-hop” covering only some of the styles she explores on the EP. From the Nu-Metal sound of “Let Them Out” to the 80s pop vibes of “Fortune Teller”, the layering of sonorous pianos and synths under expert production perfectly complements her deep and commanding vocals.

The cinematic and holistic nature of Raylee Forest’s musical identity makes “My World” nothing short of a rapturous listening experience that will transport you straight into the realms of fantasy.

About Raylee Forest

Originally from China and now based in California, Raylee Forest is hailed as a “dark pop” singer-songwriter with a vivid and distinct musical style. Her “exceptional creativity and unique dark aesthetic” has been hailed as “perfect for the villains in a Disney Movie”. She began playing the piano at a young age, taking inspiration from both Eastern and Western piano music. Despite this being her first multi-song project, she already has many accomplishments under her belt – Her single "Mask" has been featured on Spotify's official playlist "HYPE+" and ranked among the top 300 songs on NetEase.

With her debut EP "My World", Raylee challenges norms and pushes the boundaries of pop music into extraordinary territory

Follow Raylee on Instagram and Twitter, and stream her new EP “My World“ now!

Isabella Roberti

Isabella Roberti is a culture journalist from Toronto who graduated from McGill University with a degree in Cultural Studies this year. Having previously written cultural criticism for the McGill Daily, Isabella is primarily interested in film analysis, specifically examining representational politics across female-directed and -written feminist films, and alternative music by marginalized artists, specifically in the Montreal underground alternative scene. She also writes creative nonfiction prose, inspired by the likes of Patti Smith, Cookie Mueller, and Lynn Crosbie.  

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