Soulful yet unassuming, gospel-rooted yet supple enough to glide through folk and R&B with ease, this record has it all! On Ripples of the Past, Ray Curenton’s most intimate and stripped-down album to date, that voice becomes the centerpiece of a project that feels less like a collection of songs and more like a memoir set to music. With just eight tracks and a minimalist production approach from Nashville producer Brandon Adams, Curenton has created a deeply personal, three-act journey through memory, identity, and the path toward healing.

The record is divided into three acts, Age of Minority, Age of Maturity, and Age of Majority with each chapter acting as both reflection and revelation. The structure itself feels intentional, mirroring not only the way memory unfolds but also the way healing works: in fragments, in ripples, in waves that lap against one another across time. While his earlier work leaned into pop and R&B textures, Ripples of the Past strips things back to the bones. Acoustic guitars form the backbone of the album, offering a warm, organic counterpoint to his smooth and atmospheric vocals. The simplicity of the arrangements allows every lyric to land with clarity.

Curenton sings with a balance of softness and command, never overselling the emotion but always delivering. It’s a masterclass in restraint, the kind of vocal performance that hits hardest in the quiet vulnerable spaces in between. Listeners drawn to artists like Nick Hakim or Bon Iver will feel right at home in this overall tone. However, Curenton makes it his own by weaving threads of his Nashville roots and gospel upbringing throughout.

Lyrically, the album is full of reflections, moving from shame and grief to revelation and renewal. The writing is personal yet universally resonant, offering a kind of intimacy that feels like being let in on a secret. It’s music for late nights and long drives, for those moments when silence needs a companion.

At just eight songs, the album leaves you wanting more, but perhaps that’s the point. Like memory itself, it lingers long after it ends, its ripples spreading outward. With Ripples of the Past, Ray Curenton has delivered his most vulnerable, resonant work yet. Who knows if he’ll ever go back to what was released originally, but if he doesn’t, we don’t even care because this is about as lovely as it gets.

Go ahead and sink into the record below and make sure to follow along as well!

Listen to “Ripples of the Past”

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