LJ & The Ray Band Drop A fresh and Insanely Danceable New Single

R.A.G.
Apr 16
6 min read

A fresh single release from LJ and the Ray Band recently dropped, and this track displays such catchy and colorful swagger, funk tonality, smooth, flowing vocals, and lush, packed instrumentation that just gives the song A richness and flavor that you rarely get these days.

"Heels" is a single riddled with pop overtones and most certainly comes at you with great attitude and this certain brightness, along with a deep-pocketed, heavy-handed funk groove that you just can't turn away from.

This is a track that is insanely danceable. It is almost impossible to listen to this song and not start moving your body with it.

Of course, that's what it's built for. It's built to make you want to get up, move the couch back, and dance around the living room. If you're driving in your car, you'll be shaking your butt in your seat. That's just how it works with tracks like this one.

It is loaded with awesome horn sections, walking bass guitar lines, and robust vocals that definitely give that classic soul approach. The whole thing gives off an intense aesthetic that just feels good to listen to.

The guitar work adds a lot of that color and flavor to the song. It gives a different texture and blends amazingly with those horn sections and vocals.

There's a lot of great vocal work across this track, not just on the Forefront, but also during the chorus, there are these harmonies, and that's the part of the song that really sticks with you long after it has ended.

I love how the trumpets also perform these hooks along with the vocals. I feel like I missed instrumental hooks for so long. You don't really get to hear them that often anymore. Sometimes in synth-pop, they come along, or with tracks like this one, oriented around vivacious funk overtones, you get to hear some great instrumental licks.

To me, this adds more to the boisterous approach and soundscape that you hear and really pushes that groove even further.

It's been a bit since I heard a track that hits the way this one does. That's swagger is everything. It comes across with such a classic tonality, and the whole thing is incredibly full-bodied. There is not a single second of space. It's just all coming at you with a brilliant brightness, and I feel like LJ was really able to portray the kind of energy that was needed.

This single has a little bit of a live performance undertone to it. That is pretty much all in the energy. When you listen to the song, you feel like the whole thing was recorded right there, in the moment. A bunch of people in a room playing the song and recording it at once.

Now, I wasn't there, so I'm not sure exactly how they did it, but listening to this track certainly makes you want to go see them perform it live, simply because if they're able to capture that kind of aesthetic and energy on record that well, then seeing them in a live performance setting would be awesome.

You can absolutely hear the slew of influences that come into play when listening to this one track. You hear the classic soul, the funk, even the pop shining through almost all the time.

Along with this single comes an accompanying music video that also showcases the band's presence visually. LJ is as cool as you imagine while you listen to the song.

And the video itself is very colorful as well. I feel like this is one of those cases where the music video actually lines up with the kind of energy and spirit of the song as well.

Obviously, all of this was well thought out, but the songs got heart. It's got character, and that's what you end up holding on to throughout the entire thing.

It feels like a song that's just about going out on the town, strutting your stuff, and showing off your new heels to do it.

It's been a while since I heard a song that blends vintage or classic approaches and tones with fresh ones and has it work so smoothly.

I would definitely not miss this track, and when you listen to it, turn it up because that's how it was meant to be heard. You will be singing along with the song before it ends.

Now, upon listening to this song, I wanted to have a sit-down with LJ to find out exactly where this came from and what might be coming up next for him in the band, so while you listen to the single, have a read through of our interview with the artist below.

Thanks so much for taking the time LJ! Let's jump right into "Heels"! This track colorful, fun, super danceable with that deep pocketed groove!

Where did this song come from and what was it about?

Honestly, it started with a slightly ridiculous bet—that I couldn’t write a song about any random object I was given… and that object was heels.

So naturally, I took it way too seriously and thought, “What if confidence had a soundtrack… but also wore really expensive shoes?”

“Heels” is about that moment you step into a version of yourself that’s 20% bolder, 30% sassier, and walks just a little bit slower—purely for dramatic effect.

It’s empowerment… with a strut.

I am hearing a few different styles on this single. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

Yeah, we’ve definitely got commitment issues when it comes to genres.

We grew up on funk, disco, gospel, a bit of cheeky pop… plus far too many late-night YouTube rabbit holes and more hours than we’d like to admit lost in vinyl record shops.

If it grooves, we take a little inspiration from it—respectfully, of course… and then twist it into something that sounds like us.

Are you performing live right now?

We are, yeah—and by “performing” I mean aggressively dancing while trying to remember what comes after the second chorus.

But honestly, live is where this song really comes alive. “Heels” is basically an excuse for everyone in the room to become the main character for three minutes… and we fully support that.

How did your musical journey start?

It started the same way most things do—thinking, “How hard can it be?”

Fast forward past a few very questionable demos, a lot of trial and error, and somehow ending up working and touring with Sting, Eric Clapton, Elton John, All Saints, and Eternal…

…we’re now slightly more polished, mildly more professional, and still very much making it up as we go.

Did you work with a producer on this album, or was this all you guys?

We like to call it a “collaborative community situation”… which is a slightly posh way of saying we got stuck in ourselves and then called in some very talented people to make us sound better.

Lee Henry and I (LJ) produced “Heels,” then brought in amazing musicians like Jessy Boateng on bass and Danny Flam from New York Brass to give it that big, bold brass energy.

The process is usually me throwing out slightly unhinged ideas for sounds and rhythms… and Lee calmly deciding which ones are actually usable. It’s a healthy balance.

What's next for you? Working on more new releases?

Always. We don’t really sit still—mainly because the second we do, someone comes up with another idea.

There’s more music on the way, more chaos, and definitely more songs that make you want to dance like nobody’s watching… even when everyone absolutely is.

The next single is a summer dance anthem called “We Did It All,” taken from the album “The Get Down,”—both out now on our website.

What kind of advice would you give to other up and coming bands or artists trying to get heard?

Two things:

Don’t wait until it’s perfect—it never will be.

Be weird. That’s the good stuff.

Also, consistency beats talent… but talent helps. So ideally, have both.

What would you say people can expect to hear on this track?

Groove. Attitude. A little bit of swagger you didn’t know you had.

It’s the kind of track that makes you walk differently—even if you’re just going to the kitchen.

Before we go, what would you want to express to fans of the music?

Just… thank you for being part of this madness and bringing the funk!

Whether you’ve been with us from the start or just found us, you’re officially in the club now—there’s no dress code, but “Heels” are encouraged.