Ray — ​“100% do it. Fast Track is great, especially for smaller artists.”

Ray Noir, a London-based artist, is carving out a bold and much-needed space in the world of heavy music. His genre-blending sound, which he describes as electro metal, isn’t just about making music – it’s about making a statement. ​“As an artist, it’s very important for me to front the band because I’m Queer and I feel like there’s not a lot of representation in harder music with Queer people at the front,” he explains. ​“There’s not a lot of representation to be honest in general in the scene, so I feel like that’s quite important.” 

Ray has been actively focused on his music career since mid-2023, ramping up releases and live performances. But like many independent musicians, he quickly realised how expensive that journey can be. That’s when Help Musicians stepped in. 

Ray has applied for Fast Track twice now and has got it both times. First time round, the funding helped him cover travel costs for a sold-out headline show in Oslo in 2024. ​“Flights are expensive. But the show resulted us in being booked to play again in October. So, it was worth it for us.”

Then again, in 2025, Ray received Fast Track support – this time for his appearance at Resistance Festival in Sheffield, an industrial goth and rock event. ​“We opened the festival and it was really good, we got great feedback.” The funding covered a van and driver, allowing him to bring his full band and team. ​“It meant we could afford photography and filming,” Ray says. ​“Having help with travel costs meant I could use the fee from the festival to pay everyone properly.” 

Ray’s journey with Help Musicians began even earlier, during the pandemic, when he received hardship funding. ​“It was because of word of mouth I found out,” he recalls. That early connection later led to a one-to-one call with a member of our engagement team to explore available opportunities. ​“It was helpful because the person on the line just explained what kind of funding is most suitable for me and mentioned all the support available, including for mental health.” 

The impact of our support has been tangible. ​“Without it, I would have only been able to buy train tickets for me and my drummer to Sheffield,” Ray explains.

Ray also attended Help Musicians’ peer networking event in partnership with Sounds Queer earlier this year. ​“I came to Help Musicians’ Sounds Queer event back in January. I was there… just listening. I felt a bit shy but overall, it was a good experience.” For artists like Ray, who are pushing boundaries and building community through music, having access to dedicated Queer spaces and resources is vital. 

For any fellow musicians considering reaching out to Help Musicians, Ray is clear in his advice: ​“100% do it. I think it’s great, especially for smaller artists. It’s quite costly to be an artist these days… even if it’s £500 through Fast track, it can cover the costs for a mini tour, for simple travel costs.” 

Through Help Musicians and events like those run with Sounds Queer, Ray Noir continues to challenge norms, champion representation, and make electro metal more prolific – and more inclusive – than ever.