Following the release of "Can't Fight It," which saw the artist publicly come out as gay, Rayvon Owen returns today with another soulful anthem encouraging self-love and unruly expression. His new track, "Volume," was produced by The Gifted, and arrives on the heels of Owen's tumultuous, all too relatable year.
"Like most everyone, I have experienced many highs and lows this past year," Owen tells OUT. "While I feel I have come a long way, I still sometimes fall short and don't always believe in myself in the way I should. Coming out and accepting myself for who I am was one of the most liberating and life-changing experiences for me. While my confidence has grown, I am still human and am still learning to love the person I am--flaws and all--more and more every day."
He describes the co-writing process of "Volume" as "therapeutic, as the track's lyrics "morphed into an anthem about self-encouragement and reminded me to stay true to who I was." This attitude is clearly reflected in the song's message, as Owen opens with the question, "Can I be honest for a minute? There was a time when I could barely find the strength," before erupting into a chorus demanding listeners, "Turn me up, turn me up, volume."
Having grown up gay and Black in a conservative southern town, Owen's personal journey is one of tremendous resistance, which makes his declaration on "Volume" even more important. "When I hit the floor, I don't need no one," he sings, admirably finding an optimistic outlook on losing people in his life who didn't approve of his sexuality. "You can't turn me down," Owen ultimately affims--a statement that certainly resonates with LGBTQ fans.
Listen to the OUT premiere of Rayvon Owen's "Volume," below, ahead of his forthcoming EP release.
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