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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