Michael Jackson: Top of my list is the greatest artist of all-time. His craft was just on another level and he left us with so many amazing hits which remain popular today, such as Billie Jean and Smooth Criminal.
Craig David: Second on my list is a great artist who has remained relevant over two generations with great r’n’b songs. There is no doubt he produces quality music with his immense talent, which includes rapping and singing. His fantastic hits include classics like 7 Days and Rewind to current ones such as I Know You and Heart Line. His music and style was definitely an inspiration. Through my Asian background, I managed to blend both styles into a fresh new wave and create songs as I do now, making them relevant to the current trends but still with that Asian feel.
Zack Knight: He is a great artist and definitely someone in the game who is doing very creative material with a blend of Asian and English vibes. His tracks, including Galtiyan and Bom Diggy, have done really well and appealed to a wide cross-section of audiences.
Dr Zeus: The talented music producer has been very innovative over the years, moved with the times and created great songs like Kangana, which was a big hit back in the days. He continues to create hot tracks and that was illustrated with Woofer, his recent collaboration with Snoop Do-gg. He has remained relevant and consistently created catchy beats.
H Dhami: The talented singer has been a great artist over the years and started off strong with his big Rishi Rich collaborations including Sadke Jaava, which remains a timeless track people still party to today. He is also a great entertainer and that is something I definitely adhere to.
Ed Sheeran: A great artist who went from being a street singer to becoming a global superstar. There is no doubt at how extremely impressive he is. His song lyrics have touched people’s hearts. A top vocal and lyrical talent I rate highly.
Justin Beiber: An artist who rose up from the YouTube platform to become globally successful. He has used creative ideas to make amazing songs over the years, including huge hits like Where Are You Now, Love Yourself, and of course his record-breaking version of Despicato. He is also a great entertainer too.
Rihanna: One of my favourite artists who has also kept her music so relevant and so enjoyable. She has produced hit after hit. From Umbrella to Work, she has been extremely innovative and produces exceptional songs for everyone to enjoy.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan: I think his music has generated vast amounts of respect and he has carried on the legacy of the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. He has conquered qawwali music, but also taken Bollywood by storm with hit songs. His voice has touched many hearts and inspired me to write soulful Punjabi lyrics in my songs.
Jay Sean: He has been a big inspiration from the time he became the first British Asian artist to top the charts with hits such as Dance With You. Then he went on to top the billboard charts with his song Down, which was a massive achievement and major inspiration for me to produce and create music.
- RaY is a singer/songwriter from Lancashire. You can follow him on Instagram: @_ray241_
