Whenever an actor or singer crosses over to another art form, people tend to look at them with skepticism. However, Raleigh Ritchie wants to change that idea. Born Jacob Anderson, Ritchie is best known for his role as Grey Worm in the long-running series, Game of Thrones. And although he's seen major success being on a hit television series, he's always been a music man at heart. Releasing a number of EPs and singles, Ritchie has been working in the music game for a few years now, alongside his acting gig, and has not only gotten praise for tracks like "Bloodsport" and "Stronger Than Ever" but Kendrick Lamar also handpicked him to open for K. Dot's UK tour. With the upcoming release of his debut LP, You're a Man Now, Boy, here are 10 things you should know about Raleigh Ritchie.

Music Was His Therapy

Just like writing in a journal, Raleigh Ritchie saw songwriting as an outlet to express himself and, at times, it was cathartic. "I write songs as a way to get something off my chest or get something out of my head," he says. "The way I write is very instinctive. The way I write is done like how I’m feeling. And so it’s better to trust your first idea and just going with it.”

And It Was The Best Way for Him to Express His Feelings as a Child

“I got started really writing music in my teens, in my early teens," he admits. "As a kid, I used to write down everything. I wrote down how I just felt constantly. And as I started to discover music for myself, I started to see similarities in all the artists I really liked, their writing was very confessional, very personal almost like a diary entry. [I thought,] ‘Well, that’s kind of what I do.’ I tried it, and it kind of it… It’s really weird how it happens because it feels really convenient but it was simple. I felt like this is how I get through my stuff. If I’m struggling with something, this is the best way for me to address it because I was quite a closed off kid.”

Despite Being a Little Shy as a Kid, He Wasn't Afraid to Serenade His Family

While his music is more of the R&B and hip-hop vein, Ritchie admitted to singing some good ol' fashion Carpenters when he was younger. “A song that I have a really, really clear memory of is The Carpenters’ ‘Close to You,’" he reminisces. "It’s my mum’s favorite song. I went into her room one morning, on her birthday, and I sang it to her with breakfast. But I remember singing that song a lot like on holiday and stuff. I feel like that’s the song I remember furthest back.” 

He Doesn't See Himself as an Adult

Once we hit 25, we're well into adulthood. However, Ritchie still feels like he's not at that stage just yet. And that feeling inspired the title and theme for his debut record. “The album is about not really understanding what it really means to be an adult and having to confront that like thinking about people calling me ‘a man.’ Just to put it more generally, what is a man or a woman? What is an adult? It’s not gender-specific at all. It’s like ‘What am I supposed to be doing right now, as an adult, or so-called adult, when I still feel like 1 15-year-old?’ I still feel like what I felt like when I was a kid, which is how I feel now. If anything, I feel less mature now than when I was a teenager.”

And That's Why He Called the Record, 'You're a Man Now, Boy'

While the album is personal to him, "You're a Man Now, Boy" holds the most meaning for Ritchie. “I hadn’t really written anything yet that had completely summed up how I feel. That song is probably one of my least dark or sad songs, but it’s very personal and very specific. I remember when I first wrote that, I felt relieved. I felt a real sense of relief [after] finishing that in a way that I haven’t felt with other things.”

Yes, He Plays Grey Worm in 'Game of Thrones,' But That's Completely Different From Raleigh Ritchie

Grey Worm. Raleigh Ritchie. They're all different sides to one man, and he wants people to know that these are just things he likes to do. So why not pursue them both? “I see them as completely separate things," Ritchie explains. "I think other people maybe worry about me being an actor and a singer or an actor and an artist than I do. I’m happy to do it. For me, I just like to do the things that I enjoy, you know? I think it has been a bit harder. If people find out that I’m in Game of Thrones before they listen to my music, I think they maybe think they have an idea of what that is based on actors that decided on a whim that they want to be musicians or whatever. I’ve always written music. It’s always what I’ve done for as far back as I can remember.”

He Thinks Shows Should Always be About Fun

Before going on stage each night, Ritchie and his band get together for a tradition that puts them in the right mindset. "We do a huddle and shout ‘stadium’ at each other," he divulges. "‘Stadium’ is a reminder to treat every show, no matter what size or venue, that we’re all having fun. That’s what it’s all about—having fun. That’s what shows are about for me.”

American Fans May Have to Wait a Little Longer For Any US Dates

Raleigh Ritchie has been playing the UK circuit for years but hopes to get across the pond to the US soon. But for now, American fans need to be patient. "I would love to go to America and perform. We’ve even had actual dates booked in at points over the last few years, but to be honest with you, it’s so expensive. The visa, a tour bus, all of that stuff costs a lot of money. Hopefully if my album does well, I’ll be able to come to States. At the moment, it’s not possible."

Wherever Raleigh Ritchie Goes, His Band Does, Too

He might be shown off as a solo artist, but Ritchie knows that the music wouldn't happen onstage without his band behind him. "I have a full band, and I can’t go on tour without my band," he says.

He Hopes This Album Will Mean Something to People

Once the album releases on February 26, Ritchie said that it's no longer his and hopes the music could possibly help someone. "I just hope that people feel something when they listen to it or after listening to it," he says. "I wouldn’t want to presume it could help anybody. But when I listen to music and I could relate to what somebody is saying, it helped me in some way. So I hope it can help anybody. I just hope people feel something about it. The worst thing for me would be if people were so apathetic about it. I hope people get something from it, and it’s up for interpretation when they listen to it. It’s not mine anymore once I release it."