Alex Ray Gets Real on Messy

LJ Portnoy
Oct 18
2 min read

A five-track whirlwind of raw emotion, tight hooks, and unapologetic self-expression, Alex Ray's "Messy" leaves you wanting more.

Alex Ray poises for the cover of her new EP, MESSY — Alex Ray's EP cover for MESSY - Photography by Shantell Cruz

Alex Ray’s Messy is a short, sharp burst of pop-alt emotion, five songs, twelve minutes, and zero filler. It’s a snapshot of chaos polished just enough to shine, but not so much that it loses its edge. Every track feels like an intentional contradiction: raw yet refined, vulnerable yet self-possessed.

WASTED

Pure pop-alt bliss. WASTED opens the EP like a wave of bright adrenaline, shimmering synths, infectious hooks, and the kind of chorus that belongs on a coming-of-age movie soundtrack. It’s fresh, it’s fun, and it instantly defines Ray’s sonic playground.

DRIVER’S SIDE

A standout. The opening electric guitars add grit before the pre-chorus pulls down into tension, then explodes into a cinematic rush. It’s a little lighter in mood than WASTED but still anchored in that alt-pop pulse. Ray balances the intimate and the anthemic like a pro.

yours to use

A storyteller moment. There’s something Taylor-coded in the lyricism. It’s vivid, narrative, and slightly nostalgic. The pre-bridge even flirts with a country lick, though the track stays firmly in alt territory. It’s catchy and confessional, a perfect mid-EP reset.

BOY YOU AIN’T

Haunting fun. The electric guitar grinds in all the right ways, layered under vocals that feel deep, raw, and playful. The pre-chorus builds tension, then melts into an explosive hook. It’s messy in the most intentional, satisfying sense.

MESSY

The title track slows things down without losing color. It leans into vivid storytelling. You can see the picture unfold as she sings. It’s introspective and cinematic, closing the EP on a quieter, more reflective note that lingers long after.