“For me, this project reflects the tension between light and darkness on both an emotional and sonic level, and the transformational process of searching for light, represented through many things – inner peace, clarity, or the presentness of the pure self. An open space that invites you to find your own meaning in what light or darkness might be for you.“
Calida Ray
THE RELEASE
Jul 20th - Back Here
Aug 10th - Fly To The Sun
Sep 7th - There Might Be Light Above The Surface (pt. one)
Presenting Calida Ray’s stellar debut on Stereofox Records – There Might Be Light Above The Surface. Released in two parts, the album unfolds as a deeply personal journey in search of light, moving through uncertainty, hope, love, and fear while balancing between darkness and illumination. Part one reveals the brighter, more energetic side of the project, while part two descends into darker, deeper, and more experimental territory.
Sonically, the project weaves together elements of R&B, jazz, and neo-soul, all reshaped through Calida Ray’s distinctive experimental production approach. It draws from a wide range of influences, from Hiatus Kaiyote and D’Angelo to Jacob Collier, Robert Glasper, and beyond.
Behind the alias Calida Ray is German musician, producer, and composer Frederick Schulze-Schilddorf. Drawing from a broad palette – jazz, blues, R&B, ambient, and experimental sound worlds – he continues to expand on the ideas explored in his earlier works Between Me And Myself (2024) and Breathing Underwater (2025).
Largely inspired by Italian landscapes during a vacation, the album brings together nineteen musicians from his close artistic circle in Berlin. Their contributions channel multiple creative perspectives, shaping a rich interplay of contrasting moods, textures, and forms of expression.
There Might Be Light Above The Surface is bold and searching. It resists easy categorisation, poses difficult questions, and explores the quieter, more complex corners of human emotion. Rather than offering a clear resolution, it leaves space – an open-ended reflection that invites listeners to find their own meaning in what light and darkness might represent for them.
THE ARTIST
Calida Ray
Calida Ray is a German musician, producer, and composer whose work blends R&B, jazz, blues, and experimental influences into a captivating, introspective sound. Raised in Freiburg, Germany, he developed an early connection to music through piano and vocal performance, cultivating an intuitive approach rooted in listening, improvisation, and composition. In recent years, he has also expanded into full-scale music production, reflected in his debut album Between Me And Myself (2024), and its follow-up Breathing Underwater (2025). A two-year period in Berlin played a key role in his development, providing access to a diverse creative network and leading to ongoing collaborations featured in his latest work. Since September 2025, he has been based in Bern, where he is pursuing studies in Jazz & Contemporary Music.
- Appearance on Refuge Worldwide Radio, Kiosk Radio
- Featured on Apple Music's editorial playlist Jazz Scene: Germany
- Featured on Pandora's Alternative R&B editorial station
- Featured on Deezer's Fresh Soul editorial
