Emma Johnson meets the X-Factor finalist who has his sights set firmly on global domination

Yes, the famous Simon Cowell. How does Ray get on with the high-waisted one?
 
"Simon Cowell is the don, he is so wicked. He is really generous and he has time for anyone. He came out to Capitol in LA and, he was like, ‘I knew it (the album) would be good but I didn't realise it would be this good'.
 
"He was really happy so I was happy."
 
During X-Factor, Ray was criticised by Westlife manager Louis Walsh for refusing to veer from his trademark crooner style.
 
But he refused to be deterred from the sound he has loved since childhood.
 
"My dad is really into it," says Ray.
 
"And he played it to me when I was younger. I started to look more into the Rat Pack style - the way they lived, what they did and I got DVDs from that genre. I watched people like Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor, films like Singin' in the Rain. I loved it and was just like ‘this is what I want to do'."
 
Does that mean we will never see him bringing out a pop album then?
 
"I haven't got a crystal ball, you never know what could happen. But right now I am sticking to what I love and I am happy that I am getting to do this sort of stuff and that I am getting to carry on the legacy of my idols.
 
"I am so happy and quite honoured to be able to sing these songs, to show them to the younger generation and to say: ‘this music is cool, man'."