Luver x Curt KO Makes Music on His Own Terms

There’s something to be said for artists who refuse to wait around for permission. Curtis Ray Jr., aka Luver x Curt KO, represents that breed of musician who figured out early on that if the industry wasn’t going to hand him the tools, he’d build them himself. Over 13 years, that’s exactly what he’s done from his base in Kalamazoo, Michigan, a city where Boombox Ronnie became a legend and Bell’s Brewery got its start, proving you can build anything from scratch.

Ray started recording at 12 with nothing more than a laptop and a microphone. The quality didn’t matter back then. What mattered was hearing his own voice play back, testing ideas, figuring out what worked. “I started with the simplest set-up at first, just laptop and mic,” Ray recalls. That curiosity turned into something more serious as he taught himself production, engineering, photography, and graphic design. Now he runs Eargazm Audio, an independent label where he controls every piece of the process.

His latest single, “DO YA DANCE,” came out on September 17th. The 2:11 track, produced by MARKK AYLIN, was inspired by TYLA’s performance at the 2024 BET Awards. Ray has a habit of pulling ideas from unexpected sources and filtering them through his own style. Another single, “CAN’T STOP ME,” drops later this month.

Ray’s catalog includes tracks like “BLOW YA MIND,” “If You Wanna,” “Blessings On Blessings,” “PIPED HER DWN,” and “Thought You Was The 1.” His work has been featured on CBS, FOX News, AP, ABC, and NBC. The media attention hasn’t changed his approach. He’s still the one behind the boards, still building his own studio setup, still managing both the creative and business sides.

He’s open to working with A&Rs, labels, and industry professionals, but only on his terms. Ray isn’t looking for someone to reshape his vision. “Believe in yourself when everyone else doesn’t,” he says. “Stay focused and be the best you that you can be.”

Most artists talk about independence. Ray actually lives it. He’s not waiting for the right opportunity or the perfect deal. He’s creating both, one track at a time, with a clarity about who he is and what he’s trying to build. “I aspire to inspire before I expire,” he says. That kind of focus is rare, and it’s what separates artists who talk about their dreams from the ones who actually make them happen.

Listeners can find Luver x Curt KO’s music on Spotify and YouTube, with additional links available through his Linktree. He’s also active on Facebook and LinkedIn.