Contemporary R&B artist Arin Ray parlayed appearances on TV's The X Factor into work as a songwriter for names like Jason Derulo and K. Michelle before making his full-length solo debut with 2018's Platinum Fire on a major label. Artists including but not limited to Ty Dolla $ign and VanJess contributed to the singer and songwriter's second album, 2022's Hello Poison. During the first season of The X Factor in 2011, the Cincinnati native was eliminated as a member of the bootcamp-stage group Intensity. He returned in 2012 for the second season, mentored by Britney Spears, and finished tenth.