A musical prodigy, 15-year-old Ray Goren has a very strong voice and is able to play several instruments, including keyboard and guitar. He has been performing all across the United States since he was 10 years old and will continue to perform with his newly formed Ray Goren Band. Stevie Jordan, a Grammy Award-winning artist who has worked with other well-known artists such as John Mayer, Beyoncé and Kelly Clarkson, produced this EP, which was released on August 21, 2015. Goren’s other two EP’s released prior to Songs For You were LA Session and Save My Soul.

Even though there are only five songs on Songs For You, there is a great variety between the songs. Two of the songs, Those Days and Down & Out, are about change, both to the society that we live in and in helping yourself. Those Days shows that Goren is very passionate about equality and coming together as one people, even though he knows that it might take a long time to accomplish this goal, while in Down & Out he reassures others that even though it seems like no one will be there to help you up, you are strong enough to help yourself.

One of the melancholy songs, It’s On You, is about heartbreak. It was a very touching song that you could listen to when you’re feeling down and instantly feel better. The lyrics are also filled with many cleverly constructed phases like, “The colors that you brushed away from me acted like I give you a second chance,” which add to the melodic effect.

In contrast to It’s On You, Song For Me is an upbeat song about doing what you like to do even if it’s not what others want. This is personally my favorite song on the EP because of the uplifting lyrics, catchy chorus and very intricate electric guitar solo near the end of the song. Listening to it made me want to stand up and dance to the strong, pulsing beat that was created by the bass guitar and drums.

One of my only critiques of this EP is that a couple of the songs, especially his cover of The Doors’ Light My Fire, have a lot of repetition that could be substituted to make the song have more depth. Repetition is very effective in music, but when used sparingly. Too much use of one phrase or line can get annoying and irritating rather quickly when in such a short timeframe, but overall, Songs For You surpassed my expectations, and I would recommend listening to it, as well as the other two EP’s Goren has out so far.