Born in Basildon, Essex, England, and raised in nearby Billericay, Ray has released eight studio albums on the Bronze Rat label.

[citation needed] Gemma Ray's debut album, The Leader, was co-produced by Michael J Sheehy of the band Dream City Film Club.

Appearing just a year on from her debut album, Ray's distinctive sound blending psychedelic noir-pop with a "wall-of-sound girl group backing"[1] is evident on Lights Out Zoltar!.

"[4] It's A Shame About Gemma Ray features reworkings of songs by a diverse selection of artists including Sonic Youth, Buddy Holly and The Gun Club.

In 2010, after appearing on TV show Rockwiz (duetting with Jon English), Ray found herself briefly stranded in Australia when the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull erupted.

Island Fire, which is characterised by a mix of "sugary and savoury girl-group dramarama"[6] and "lavish orchestral pop",[7] peaked at number 19 on the CMJ chart.

[10] A collection of "noir-ish surf-doom ballads and expansive pop-exotica",[11] the record features several guest appearances including Alan Vega of the band Suicide on the track "Motorbike", Howe Gelb on "The Wheel", The German Film Orchestra Babelsberg, and Deke Leonard.

2015 also saw Ray perform at two special events paying tribute to the works and legacy of Lee Hazlewood, at the London Barbican, and Lead Belly at The Royal Albert Hall.

Described as a 52-minute odyssey through her unique style of epic torch song psychedelia, The Exodus Suite was recorded live in seven days at the infamous Candy Bomber Studios by producer Ingo Krauss.

The first track to be made available was "There Must Be More Than This", an Afro-Beat meets Krautrock gambol with a sprinkling of Ethiopiques (courtesy of guest pianist Carwyn Ellis, of the Zarelli and Edwyn Collins' band).

Also in 2015, Ray worked with Wim Wenders on the restoration of his early material which led to a special performance at Berlin's Berlinale Film Festival.

Her music has also featured on shows such as Netflix's Russian Doll, The Killing, What Remains, Switch and Ringer, as well as films such as Sticky Notes and Sex & Crime.