Trans Artist Carter Ray to Kick Off WeHo Pride with New Single

Colorful with charisma and entertaining as all get out, Carter Ray is transcending what it means to be an artist by today’s standards.

Primarily known as a filmmaker and TV persona who has made appearances on MTV’s Faking It and won “Best Drama” at the QueerX LA Film Festival for his debut short film, The Change Up, Ray is expanding his artistry into the world of music. He has already made a name for himself in West Hollywood by performing at some of the hottest nightclubs, and on June 3, he will kick off WeHo Pride by debuting his latest single, “Wait for You.”

Featuring trans icon Alexa Aabraxas, this Elliott Yamin cover tells a beautifully unique story representing two trans artists in love. Ray maintains the song’s emotional brilliance but dabbles in experimental synth sounds and electronic elements, putting an EDM spin on an early-2000s classic.

OFM caught up with Ray to talk more about his brand-new song, as well as upcoming projects and being a beacon of light and an influential advocate for the LGBTQ community.

Let me begin by asking, how excited are you to kick off WeHo Pride with your version of Elliott Yamin’s “Wait for You?”

I’m very excited! This is my first time putting out a song around Pride, and I’m ecstatic because my producer, Sam J. Garfield, Alexa Aabraxas, and I put a lot of hours and time into this song, making it an awesome duet. So, I really hope that people enjoy it. It’s also got a little bit of a club under beat to it; we gave it a little remix, so it’ll be fun.

Yes, Alexa is a trans icon. What was the collaboration process like between you two?

Alexa is amazing and so talented. Prior to ever meeting, we performed on the same night at Beaches in WeHo, and we instantly connected. I just thought she was incredible, and she really enjoyed my performance, and we were like, “We’ve got to do something together.” It was around Valentine’s Day when I got a hold of her and was like, “How cool would it be to have two trans artists doing a love duet together?” She was all about it, and being in the studio with her and Sam, they are both so encouraging. Even though it’s fun to create music and make art in a studio, there are also moments of vulnerability, so having people and other artists there to really have your back, it was refreshing.

What inspired you to specifically cover “Wait for You?”

When I was a kid, I remember singing in my bedroom in front of the mirror with my hair tucked up in my hat, and I was living this fantasy that I was performing this song for an audience. I would sing it over and over again, and as a trans kid, it just felt like a dream. I wished I could perform the way Elliott Yamin performed. I wish I could do the things that these other superstars were doing. So, I really wanted to make a cover of it because I’m finally comfortable in my skin and confident where I’m at in my life. Why not do a song that I never thought I’d be able to do? That’s the main reason why I chose that song.

What does Pride personally mean to you?

To me, Pride is not just one month out of the year. I do my best to be prideful all year round. Of course, we all have our days when we feel down and struggle, which is why Pride is so important. It’s a reminder that we have a community; we have support, and we have joy. It’s an opportunity for me to be visible to those who are struggling with who they are.

Pride has been the introduction to many conversations of our common ground, which is amazing, and it’s also a reminder of our history. The ones that were before us and put in work to allow us to celebrate. There’s a lot more work to still be done, but it’s also a good reminder that we’re not alone in that.

Do you remember the first Pride event you ever attended?

Yes, I do. It was actually WeHo Pride, and a big reason why I moved out here is because it instantly felt like home to me. I grew up in a small town right outside of LA called Glendora, and it’s a very small town. There was no one else like me growing up that I knew of. I knew of no other trans kids, so my struggle with finding out who I was, it was a bit of a longer process and a little more difficult just because I felt so alone in that.

When you live in a small town, that’s kind of how it goes. So, going to WeHo Pride, I felt seen. I felt like there were people that understood me, and I didn’t feel like this freak or outcast. I found a sense of home and community. Kesha also performed, so of course, that was definitely a memorable moment (laughs). This was years ago, and it was amazing.

You have another single coming out this summer called “Make a Man.” What can you tell us about this?

This song is going to be a banger; that’s what I can tell you! Sam and I were talking about what we wanted to do next, and I had this idea of rewriting the original song of Mulan’s “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.” Growing up, it was kind of instilled in my head that being a man is about being buff, fighting, and strong. I wanted to take that, change it, and rewrite it about how there is actually power in being vulnerable and strength in showing emotion. That’s the kind of message I wanted to say, and of course, the beat is much different than the original. It’s got EDM, beat drops; it’s definitely going to be a song that’s going to be played in the clubs.

Have you always had a passion for singing and songwriting?

I have always had a passion for singing and songwriting, but I’ve also always had a passion for acting. That kind of led me into music. Singing and songwriting was something I just did for fun, and I wasn’t pursuing it as a career. I would sing around the house, and my fiancé was like, “You should meet Sam. I think you guys would work well together.” I was like, “I don’t know. You really think I could do music?” She’s like, “Yes!”

I had so much fun with it, I was eventually like, “Maybe I could pursue this professionally.” It’s also a good addition to have as an actor. Like, I can do a few more things than just act. It’s been a lot of fun to kind of live out the things that I’ve always loved to do, but now doing it for work and for a career is amazing.

Do you think there is a lack of representation for trans men in the music industry?

Definitely, 100%. There is definitely a lack of representation, and it needs to change. I feel like it can. There’s a stigma around trans artists, and when the general public hears trans artists, they often dismiss them without even giving them the opportunity to listen to their music. There are so many amazing, talented trans artists that I adore and root for through and through, but I feel like just because they are proud of their identities, that stigma tends to hold them back, which is unfortunate. We’re not going to pretend to be someone we’re not. We’re not going to hide who we are.

Circling back to acting, do you have any current projects in the works?

I do, but I can’t really talk about them (laughs). But I will say, I’m very excited to have a lot of amazing things coming up and I can’t wait to share them. I also have a lot of self-created projects that I’m working on as well. I recently finished my short film The Change Up, which I wrote, produced, and is now on YouTube for the world to see.

It did very well at festivals, and it also won “Best Drama” at the QueerX Film Festival in LA. That was definitely my passion project for a very long time, and I hope that someone young and feeling like they’re alone has seen it because I wish I had something like that growing up. I really feel like people can connect with it.

In 2014, you began to document your transition on the internet in hopes of raising awareness. Did you accomplish what you set out to do?

When I was younger, I struggled a lot with who I was, and like I mentioned earlier, I felt like an outcast. No one could understand the feelings that I was having, and I wish I had someone on YouTube that I could turn to and watch. Someone I could relate myself to. So, I decided to document my transition on YouTube, and I told myself before I began, if I can reach one person and they feel value in who they are, then I’ve done what I’ve set myself out to do.

I’ve received hundreds of messages from people telling me that I’ve inspired them or that I’ve given them purpose to keep on going. That means the world to me. I’ve even had parents of trans kids reach out and say, “Hey, what can I do? How can I support my child? What do you wish your parents did?” Things like that, and I get very emotional just thinking about it because I didn’t think I would make this kind of an impact, and I’m so grateful for that.

With that being said, I do think I’ve accomplished what I’ve set myself out to do. My YouTube channel is no longer necessarily about my transition, and I feel like I’m where I want to be. I’m just living my life, enjoying where I’m at, and feeling comfortable and proud in my skin. Now, I want to focus more on playing characters on TV and film and playing characters that are not like me. That way, I can hopefully reach a larger audience, and people will see a trans individual doing what they love. I feel like that will make much more of an impact.

What are some other future goals you hope to achieve with your career?

I definitely want to be a series regular, and I want to play characters that aren’t trans. I don’t want to be boxed in. I feel like putting trans people in roles that have nothing to do with their transness or identities, in my opinion, that is more groundbreaking. It’s very validating, and it shows the world that trans people are also individuals that are just living their lives as normal human beings. Not everything revolves around our transition. If we are allowing ourselves to disclose those things about ourselves, that’s our choice and we are able to do so, but it’s not the most important thing about us.

Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you’d like to mention or plug?

Just that my version of “Wait for You” will come out on June 3, which I’m super excited about, and even though I can’t talk about my other projects just yet, I’ll announce them as soon as I can on Instagram and social media. You can also watch my short film, The Change Up, on YouTube as well.

Stay up-to-date and connect with Ray by following him on Instagram @carter_rayy, TikTok @carter_rayy51, YouTube @carterray, or visit his official website, carterray.com.

Photos courtesy of Bird Lambro