Ray (girl group)
{{Short description|Japanese idol girl group}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ray
| image =
| caption =
| alias =
| origin = Japan
| genre = {{hlist|J-pop|shoegaze}}
| years_active = 2019–present
| label = Sova
| associated_acts =
| website = {{url|https://r-a-y.world/}}
| current_members =
- Ami
- Yūa Uchiyama
- Shizuku Kotoyama
- Mao Tsukiumi
- Mikoto Tsumugi
| past_members =
- Sayaka Shirakawa
- Marino Kai
- Tsukihi
}}
{{nihongo|Ray|レイ}}; stylized in all caps, is a Japanese idol girl group that formed in 2019.
History
Ray was formed on April 15, 2019. The initial line-up consisted of four members: Sayaka Shirakawa, Tsukihi, Marino Kai, and Yūa Uchiyama. They performed live for the first time on May 1.{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/328050|title=新生アイドル「RAY」、・・・・・・・・・運営チームのサポートで始動|website=Natalie|date=April 15, 2019|language=ja}} They released their debut single, "Blue", on October 30. The lead track from the single, titled "Meteor", was produced by American shoegaze band Ringo Deathstarr, while the second track "Butterfly Effect" was produced by Natsubot of For Tracy Hyde, and the third track "Sekai no Owari wa Kimi to Futari de" was produced by Yusuke Hata of Cruyff in the Bedroom.{{cite web|url=https://ototoy.jp/news/94469|title=RAY、1stシングルからRingo Deathstarr提供楽曲「Meteor」のMVを公開|website=Ototoy|date=October 27, 2019|language=ja}}
They released their debut album, Pink, on May 23, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://ototoy.jp/news/96460|title=アイドルグループRAY、90sサウンドを濃縮還元した1stアルバムのリリースが決定|website=Ototoy|date=April 15, 2020|language=ja}} They held their first solo concert on May 11.{{cite web|url=https://ototoy.jp/news/95777|title=アイドルグループRAY、5/11に渋谷ＷＷＷＸで1stワンマン「アイドル」開催|website=Ototoy|date=February 16, 2020|language=ja}} On November 19, Ray transferred to the agency Sova.{{cite web|url=https://ototoy.jp/news/99169|title=RAY、tipToe.所属の合同会社SOVA へ移籍を発表|website=Ototoy|date=November 19, 2020|language=ja}}
Sayaka Shirakawa graduated from the group on February 23, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://ototoy.jp/news/99480|title=RAYから白川さやかが卒業、卒業公演は2/23(火・祝)新宿BLAZEにて開催|website=Ototoy|date=December 14, 2020|language=ja}} Shizuku Kotoyama joined the group on July 3.
They released their second album, Green, on May 25, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/111633/2|title=RAYの新アルバム『Green』にダニエル・ノウルズ、吉田一郎不可触世界ら楽曲提供|website=Billboard Japan|date=May 3, 2022|language=ja}} On July 23, Marino Kai and Tsukihi left the group.{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/485000|title=RAY現体制ラストワンマンライブで甲斐莉乃、月日が脱退|website=Natalie|date=July 11, 2022|language=ja}} Mao Tsukiumi and Mikoto Tsumugi joined the group on September 19.
On February 1, 2023, they released the split EP, Atmosphere, with Dai Dai Dai and Crossnoesis.{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/503526|title=RAY、代代代、クロスノエシスが合同作品リリース＆ツアー開催|website=Natalie|date=December 1, 2022|language=ja}} In 2023, Ray released a digital single every month from February to July. The first of the singles, "Dokusho Nikki" was released on February 19,{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/513496|title=RAYが3カ月連続シングル第1弾配信、For Tracy HydeのMavが制作した変拍子シューゲイズ曲|website=Natalie|date=February 19, 2023|language=ja}} followed by "Himitsu ga Itaiyo" on March 25,{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/518069|title=RAY、3カ月連続シングル第2弾はcruyff in the bedroomハタユウスケ提供曲「秘密がいたいよ」|website=Natalie|date=March 25, 2023|language=ja}} then "Tameiki wo Sagashite" on April 23,{{cite web|url=https://skream.jp/news/2023/04/ray_tameiki_wo_sagashite.php|title=RAY、3ヶ月連続シングル配信リリース第3弾「ため息をさがして」配信開始。ハタユウスケ（cruyff in the bedroom）制作のシューゲイズ・バラード曲|website=Skream!|date=April 23, 2023|language=ja}} then "Frontier" on May 27,{{cite web|url=https://billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/125647|title=RAYが3か月連続シングル配信リリース、第1弾はダンサブルな「フロンティア」|website=Billboard Japan|date=May 27, 2023|language=ja}} then "This is not a love song" on June 25,{{cite web|url=https://skream.jp/news/2023/06/ray_digital_single_vol2.php|title=RAY、3ヶ月連続シングル配信リリース第2弾「ディス・イズ・ノット・ア・ラブソング」配信スタート|website=Skream!|date=June 25, 2023|language=ja}} and "Bloom" on July 29.{{cite web|url=https://skream.jp/news/2023/07/ray_bloom_release.php|title=RAY、3ヶ月連続シングル配信リリース第3弾「Bloom」配信スタート|website=Skream!|date=July 29, 2023|language=ja}} All six of the digital singles were featured on their third album, Camellia, which was released on October 18.{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/538547|title=RAYが3rdアルバムリリース、リード曲に青木ロビンや中尾憲太郎が参加|website=Natalie|date=August 27, 2023|language=ja}}
Their first EP, Vase, was released on April 3, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://skream.jp/news/2024/03/ray_ep_vase.php|title=RAY、再録EP『vase』4/3リリース|website=Skream!|date=March 1, 2024|language=ja}}
Their second EP, Seasons, was released on March 5, 2025.{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/610102|title=RAYが四季テーマの新作EP「Seasons」発表 ハタユウスケ、Couple、みきれちゃん参加|website=Natalie|date=February 2, 2025|language=ja}} Ami will graduate from the group on May 4.{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/610378|title=RAY愛海が卒業、闘病の末に決断|website=Natalie|date=February 4, 2025|language=ja}}
Members
=Current=
- {{nihongo|Ami|愛海}}
- {{nihongo|Yūa Uchiyama|内山結愛}}
- {{nihongo|Shizuku Kotoyama|琴山しずく}}
- {{nihongo|Mao Tsukiumi|月海まお}}
- {{nihongo|Mikoto Tsumugi|紬実詩}}
=Former=
- {{nihongo|Sayaka Shirakawa|白川さやか}}
- {{nihongo|Marino Kai|甲斐莉乃}}
- {{nihongo|Tsukihi|月日}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Details ! scope="col" colspan="2" | Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:2.75em;font-size:85%;" | JPN {{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/756571/products/|title=Ray {{pipe}} Oricon Style|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=February 13, 2025}} ! scope="col" style="width:2.75em;font-size:85%;" | JPN Hot
|
|---|
| scope="row" | Pink
|
| — || — |
| scope="row" | Green
|
| 46 || 71 |
| scope="row" | Camellia
|
| 45 || 56 |
=Live albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of live albums, with selected details ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Details |
| scope="row" | Keep Idol & Shoegaze (Live at Club Seata, 2024)
|
|
|---|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of EPs, with selected details ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Details |
| scope="row" | Atmosphere {{small|Split EP with Dai Dai Dai and Crossnoesis}} |
|
|---|
| scope="row" | Vase
|
|
| scope="row" | Seasons
|
|
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |
| scope="col" style="width:2.75em;font-size:85%;" | JPN |
|---|
| scope="row" | "Blue"
| 2019 | — | Pink |
| scope="row" | "Yellow"
| 2021 | 22 | Green |
| scope="row" | {{nihongo|"Furanbowāzu Parfait no Tame ni"|フランボワーズ・パルフェのために}} {{small|with For Tracy Hyde}} | rowspan="2" | 2022 | — | {{Non-album single}} |
| scope="row" | "Moment"
| — | Vase |
| scope="row" | {{nihongo|"Dokusho Nikki"|読書日記}}
| rowspan="6" | 2023 | — | rowspan="6" | Camellia |
| scope="row" | {{nihongo|"Himitsu ga Itaiyo"|秘密がいたいよ}}
| — |
| scope="row" | {{nihongo|"Tameiki wo Sagashite"|ため息をさがして}}
| — |
| scope="row" | {{nihongo|"Frontier"|フロンティア}}
| — |
| scope="row" | {{nihongo|"This is not a love song"|ディス・イズ・ノット・ア・ラブソング}}
| — |
| scope="row" | "Bloom"
| — |
| scope="row" | {{nihongo|"Winter Greetings|冬の手紙}}
| rowspan="5"|2024 | — | rowspan="5" {{Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row" | {{nihongo|"Tsugare Yosare Bushi|津軽よされ節}}
| — |
| scope="row" | "I see the light"
| — |
| scope="row" | {{nihongo|"Hatsukoi Cider"|初恋サイダー}} {{small|Cover of Buono!}} | — |
| scope="row" | "See ya!"
| — |
| align="center" colspan="5" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |