Raye | |
---|---|
Born | Rachel Agatha Keen 24 October 1997 |
Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
Years active | 2014–present |
Works | Discography |
Awards | Full list |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Instrument(s) |
|
Labels |
|
Website | rayeofficial |
Rachel Agatha Keen (born 24 October 1997), known professionally as Raye (stylised in all caps), is an English pop/R&B singer-songwriter. [1] Her debut studio album, My 21st Century Blues (2023) was released independently to critical and commercial success, and won Album of the Year at the 2024 BRIT Awards. Among five other awards for which she was a recipient, Raye broke the record for most wins and nominations for an artist at the ceremony in a single year. [2] [3]
Before her breakthrough as solo artist, Raye wrote songs for other acts, including Beyoncé, Little Mix, Rihanna, David Guetta, John Legend and Ellie Goulding. She rose to prominence after her guest appearances on the commercially successful 2016 singles "By Your Side" by Jonas Blue and "You Don't Know Me" by Jax Jones, as well as her 2020 single "Secrets" (with Regard) and "Bed" (with David Guetta and Joel Corry) the following year. She gained media attention following her departure from Polydor Records in the latter year, after the label allegedly refused to release her debut album. [4] [5]
Raye's 2022 single "Escapism" (featuring 070 Shake) achieved virality on TikTok before becoming her first song to peak atop the UK Singles Chart. It also reached the top ten in 22 countries, and became her first entry on the US Billboard Hot 100. It preceded the release of her debut studio album, My 21st Century Blues (2023), which was nominated for a Mercury Prize. That same year, "Prada" (with Cassö and D-Block Europe) topped charts across Europe and, along with "Escapism", earned a nomination for Brit Award for Song of the Year; the latter of which won the award.
In 2019, Raye was given a BMI Film & TV Award for her "groundbreaking artistry, creative vision and impact on the future of music." [6] She has over ten million certified sales in the United Kingdom. [7] She has also won a Brits Billion Award—becoming one of its first recipients—as well as an Ivor Novello Award, MOBO Award, six Brit Awards—becoming the first female recipient to win Songwriter of the Year, and a Global Award.
Rachel Agatha Keen [8] was born on 24 October 1997 [9] in Tooting, London, [10] to a Ghanaian-Swiss mother who is a mental health worker and an English father from Yorkshire. [10] Raye’s middle name is the first name of her grandmother. As a child, she sang gospel songs in a church where her father was the musical director and her mother sang in the choir. [11]
Later, she moved to Croydon, where she studied at Coulsdon Church of England Primary School and Woodcote High School and at age 14 attended BRIT School, before dropping out after two years due to feeling "confined... despite learning an extensive amount." [12] Keen spent most of her teenage years learning how to write songs professionally in studio sessions at the weekends. [13] [14] Raye's younger sister, Abby Lynn Keen, is also a singer-songwriter, professionally known as Absolutely. [15]
In December 2014, at the age of 17, Raye released her debut extended play Welcome to the Winter. [16] Raye released the singles "Flowers" and "Alien" in February and April 2015, respectively, the latter featuring London-based rapper Avelino. [17] [18]
In August 2016, RAYE released her second EP, Second . [19] The extended play was preceded by promotional singles "Distraction" and "Ambition", the latter featuring rapper Stormzy. "I, U, Us" was released as the lead single from the EP in October 2016. [20] A video was released which was directed by British singer Charli XCX. A live performance video for the song "Shhh" was released in November 2016. [21] Raye was featured on Jonas Blue's single "By Your Side". It was released in October 2016 and peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart. She also featured on Jax Jones' single "You Don't Know Me" in December 2016. The song, co-written by Raye herself, peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart [22] and has been certified double Platinum by the BPI.
In February 2017, Raye performed her first headline concert at XOYO in Shoreditch. [23] Raye was featured alongside Starrah on the track "Dreamer" from Charli XCX's mixtape Number 1 Angel , which was released in March 2017. Stand-alone singles, "The Line" and "Sober (Stripped)" were released in May and August, respectively. In November, Raye released "Decline" (featuring Mr Eazi), which peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart and has been certified Platinum.
In February 2018, Raye released the single titled "Cigarette" (with Mabel and Stefflon Don). The song peaked at number 41 on the UK Singles Chart and has been certified Silver by the BPI. In March 2018, Raye collaborated with Kojo Funds and released "Check" which peaked at number 26 in the UK and is certified Gold. Both "Decline" and "Cigarette" would appear on Raye's third extended play, titled Side Tape, which was released in May 2018. [24] A video for promotional single "Confidence" (with Maleek Berry and Nana Rogues), was also released that month. [25] Later in 2018, Raye released the stand-alone single titled, "Friends", which peaked at number 66 in the UK. In September 2018, Raye supported Halsey on the European leg of the Hopeless Fountain Kingdom Tour. In October 2018, Raye embarked on her own headlining tour, visiting a number of cities around the UK and Ireland. [26]
In February 2019, Raye was featured on the song "Tipsy" by Odunsi. [27] In April 2019, it was announced Raye would support Khalid on his Free Spirit World Tour in Autumn 2019, alongside Mabel. Raye collaborated with David Guetta on the single "Stay (Don't Go Away)", which was released in May 2019 and peaked at number 41 on the UK Singles Chart. Raye was revealed to be a co-writer on the track "Bigger" by American singer Beyoncé, which was featured on the soundtrack album The Lion King: The Gift , released in July 2019. In August 2019, Raye released the single "Love Me Again", whilst a remix of the song with Jess Glynne was later released. The single later peaked at number 55 on the UK Singles Chart and has been certified Silver. Another Guetta collaboration, "Make It to Heaven", was released in November 2019 along with producer Morten. Follow up promotional singles "Please Don't Touch" and "All of My Love", the latter featuring rapper Young Adz, were released in December 2019 and February 2020, respectively.
"Tequila" was released as a single in collaboration with DJs Jax Jones and Martin Solveig in February 2020. The song peaked at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart as well as peaking inside the top 20 in Ireland and Scotland. The track received a Gold certification in the UK. A collaboration with DJ Regard titled "Secrets" was released in April 2020. [28] The song peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart and topped the UK Dance Chart. [29] [30] The song also reached the top ten in Ireland and Scotland as well as on the US Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart. "Secrets" charted in numerous countries such as the Netherlands, France, and Germany, making it Raye's first chart appearance as a lead artist. In July 2020, Raye released the single "Natalie Don't". [31]
In November 2020, Raye released her first mini-album, Euphoric Sad Songs , featuring previous releases "Love Me Again", "Please Don't Touch", "Secrets", and "Natalie Don't" plus additional new singles "Love of Your Life" and the album's fifth official single, "Regardless" (with Rudimental). [32] The latter single peaked inside the top 40 in the United Kingdom as well on the US Dance/Electronic Songs chart. [33] [34] The project is centered around the theme of the "seven stages of grief" with Raye stating that she wrote the album during each stage of grief with the creative process helping heal her broken heart. [35]
A collaborative single, "Bed" with Joel Corry and David Guetta, was released in February 2021. [36] The song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Raye's highest charting single as a lead artist on the chart at the time. In June 2021, Raye released the single "Call On Me", which was intended to serve as the lead single for her debut studio album. [37] Raye co-wrote and co-produced the song "Let Them Know" by Mabel, which was also released the same month.
Later that month, Raye revealed that her record label, Polydor Records, had been withholding her debut album for several years. [38] The statement received support from fellow artists including Charli XCX, MNEK, and Rina Sawayama. [39] Raye later went on a hiatus following the statements [40] and in July 2021, she announced that she had parted ways with Polydor to work as an independent artist. [41] Raye closed the year performing her Euphoric Sad Show headline UK and Ireland tour. [42]
In June 2022, Raye released the single "Hard Out Here", her first release as an independent artist. [43] The second single, "Black Mascara", was released in August 2022 [44] and was followed by a dual single release, "Escapism" (featuring 070 Shake), and "The Thrill is Gone" in October 2022. [45] All singles would come together to form Raye's debut studio album, My 21st Century Blues , which was released in February 2023. The album peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart, behind Shania Twain's Queen of Me . [46] In support of the album, Raye embarked on a mini tour entitled The Story So Far, which marked her first headlining shows in Europe and North America. [47] This was followed by the My 21st Century Blues Tour, which commenced in February 2023. [48] By December 2022, following the track going viral on multiple streaming platforms, "Escapism" ascended into the top ten of the UK Singles Chart, later peaking at number one in the first week of 2023, marking Raye's highest charting single and first chart-topper in the country. [49] In the United States, "Escapism" became Raye's first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 22. [50] The track also charted internationally, becoming Raye's best-charting single of her career to date in various territories.
In January 2023, Raye opened for Lewis Capaldi's Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent Tour in the UK and Ireland. In February 2023, Raye made her U.S. network television debut performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert . [51] Raye supported Kali Uchis' Red Moon in Venus Tour, which took place from April to May in North America, [52] and SZA on the second leg of her SOS Tour in June. [53] That same month, she performed at the Glastonbury Festival 2023. In October 2023, Raye released My 21st Century Symphony, a live interpretation of songs from her debut album recorded at London's Royal Albert Hall alongside the Heritage Orchestra and the Flames Collective, a 30-piece gospel choir. [54]
In March 2024, Raye performed a medley of a few of her hits at the BRIT Awards, where she won six out of seven nominations including Artist of the Year, breaking the record for most awards awarded to an artist in one night in the history of the BRIT Awards. [55] She was one of the songwriters on the song "Riiverdance", contained on Beyoncé's country music-inspired album Cowboy Carter (2024). [56]
On Saturday 6 April 2024, Raye appeared as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live opposite host Kristen Wiig. [57]
Raye grew up listening to R&B and neo soul [58] artists such as Jill Scott, [59] [60] Frank Ocean [61] and Lauryn Hill, [62] and indie rock bands like Tame Impala and Bombay Bicycle Club. [63] She has also expressed admiration for Beyoncé, [64] Lady Gaga, [65] Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone. [66]
Raye identifies herself as a Christian and credits her faith for helping her to overcome her personal struggles. [67] In an interview for Rolling Stone UK, Raye revealed that she had struggled with body dysmorphia, addiction, an eating disorder, and anxiety. In a separate interview for the BBC, Raye revealed she had been sexually assaulted by a record producer earlier in her career. [68] [69]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert | Herself (Musical Guest) | Performed "Escapism." |
2024 | Saturday Night Live | Herself (Musical Guest) | Performed "Escapism.", "Worth It." and currently unreleased song fan-dubbed "Let There Be Light" |
Natalie Jane Imbruglia is an Australian-British singer-songwriter and actress. In the early 1990s, she played Beth Brennan in Neighbours. Having left the soap opera, she moved to the UK and began a singing career. Her debut single, a cover of Ednaswap's song "Torn" (1997), quickly became a worldwide hit, topped the US Billboard Radio Songs Chart for eleven weeks in 1998, and was listed on 50 Best Songs of 1990s by Rolling Stone. Her debut album, Left of the Middle (1997) was a commercial success, certified multi-platinum in the US, the UK and Australia and eventually sold seven million copies worldwide. Subsequent albums, including White Lilies Island (2001) and Counting Down the Days (2005) did not match commercial success of her debut, but both albums still gained Gold certification in the UK. As of 2021, Imbruglia has released six studio albums and has sold more than ten million copies worldwide. Imbruglia has received various accolades, including eight ARIA Awards, two Brit Awards, one Billboard Music Award, one Silver Clef Award and three Grammy nominations.
Adam Richard Wiles, known professionally as Calvin Harris, is a Scottish DJ, singer, songwriter, and record producer. His debut studio album, I Created Disco, was released in June 2007. Its singles "Acceptable in the 80s" and "The Girls" both reached the top 10 in the UK. In 2009, he released his second studio album, Ready for the Weekend, which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and whose lead single, "I'm Not Alone", became his first song to top the UK Singles Chart.
Rebecca Claire Hill is an English singer and songwriter. She rose to fame after appearing on the first series of The Voice UK, auditioning with John Legend's "Ordinary People". She joined Jessie J's team and reached the semi-final of the competition.
Thomas Peter Odell is an English singer-songwriter. He released his debut extended play, Songs from Another Love, in 2012. He won the BRITs Critics' Choice Award in early 2013. Odell's debut studio album, Long Way Down, was issued on 24 June 2013. Three years later, his follow-up studio album, Wrong Crowd, was released, on 10 June 2016. This was followed by several other albums.
Mabel Alabama-Pearl McVey is an R&B and pop singer and songwriter. The daughter of English music producer Cameron McVey and Swedish singer Neneh Cherry, she rose to prominence in 2017 with her single "Finders Keepers" which peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart.
Gabriella Michelle Henderson is an English singer and songwriter. She competed in the ninth series of The X Factor UK in 2012, being the eighth contestant eliminated despite being a strong favourite to win. She signed with Syco Music shortly after, and released her debut studio album, Chapter One (2014), which reached number one in the UK. The album spawned the chart-topping single "Ghost", as well as the top 20 singles "Glow" and "Yours". Henderson went on a four-year hiatus in 2015. Her second studio album, Everything I Didn't Say, was released in 2022.
Guy James Robin, known professionally as Jonas Blue, is an English DJ and record producer. He is widely known for recruiting young artists for his dance productions, which blends pop.
Timucin Lam, known professionally as Jax Jones, is an English DJ, record producer and remixer. He rose to prominence in 2014 by featuring on Duke Dumont's number-one single "I Got U". He followed this up with his own singles "You Don't Know Me" featuring Raye and "Instruction" featuring Demi Lovato and Stefflon Don in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Jax's debut studio album, Snacks (Supersize), was released in 2019.
Anne-Marie Rose Nicholson is an English singer-songwriter. She has attained various charting singles on the UK Singles Chart, including Clean Bandit's "Rockabye", which peaked at number one, as well as "Alarm", "Ciao Adios", "Friends", "2002", "Don't Play" and "Kiss My (Uh-Oh)". Her debut studio album, Speak Your Mind, was released in 2018 and peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart. In 2021, she released her second studio album, Therapy followed by her third studio album, Unhealthy, in 2023. Both albums peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart.
David Orobosa Michael Omoregie, known professionally as Dave or Santan Dave, is a British rapper and actor. He is known for his socially conscious lyricism and wordplay.
Thomas Benjamin Grennan is an English singer and songwriter from Bedford and is based in London. Grennan found fame as the guest vocalist on Chase & Status's "All Goes Wrong" in 2016. His debut album, Lighting Matches, was released in July 2018. The album peaked at number five on the UK Albums Chart and includes the single "Found What I've Been Looking For".
Danielle Balbuena, better known by her stage name 070 Shake, is an American rapper and singer. She is best known for her guest appearance on English singer Raye's 2022 single "Escapism," which peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaked atop the UK Singles Chart, and won Song of the Year at the 2024 Brit Awards.
The discography of British singer-songwriter Raye consists of one studio album, one live album, six extended plays (EPs), thirty five singles, ten promotional singles and twelve guest appearances. In addition to her own releases, Raye has also been a songwriter for other artists including Beyoncé, Little Mix, Mabel, Zara Larsson, Ellie Goulding and Hailee Steinfeld.
D-Block Europe, often abbreviated to DBE, is a British hip hop collective consisting of Adam Nathaniel "Young Adz" Williams, and Ricky Earl "Dirtbike LB" Banton. Their name originated after being co-signed by Jadakiss, resulting in Jadakiss launching the European staple of his record label D-Block Records, creating D-Block Europe. They started to put out tracks on their own label at the beginning of 2014. The group rose to fame in 2017 after releasing numerous singles including "Large Amounts", "Darling", "Nasty".
Beatrice Kristi Ilejay Laus, known professionally as Beabadoobee, is a Filipino-English singer and songwriter. From 2018 to 2021, she released five extended plays under the independent label Dirty Hit: Lice (2018), Patched Up (2018), Loveworm (2019), Space Cadet (2019) and Our Extended Play (2021). Her debut studio album, Fake It Flowers, was released in October 2020 and received critical acclaim. Her second studio album, Beatopia, was released on July 15, 2022.
Euphoric Sad Songs is the debut mini-album by British singer-songwriter Raye. It was released on 20 November 2020 through Polydor Records. The album was supported by the singles; "Love Me Again", "Secrets" with Regard, "Natalie Don't", "Love of Your life" and "Regardless" with Rudimental. Promotional single "Please Don't Touch" also preceded the project's release. A remix EP titled Euphoric Sad Songs was released on 28 December 2020.
Amelia Anne Webb, known professionally as Mimi Webb, is an English singer and songwriter. In October 2021, she released her debut EP, Seven Shades of Heartbreak, which peaked at number nine on the UK Albums Chart, and included the single "Good Without", which peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart. Webb released her debut studio album, Amelia, in March 2023, which spawned the successful singles "House on Fire", "Ghost of You" and "Red Flags".
My 21st Century Blues is the debut studio album by English singer and songwriter Raye. It was released independently by Human Re Sources on 3 February 2023. The album is Raye's first project following her departure from Polydor Records in 2021. Largely co-written and produced by herself, she worked with notable names including Mike Sabath, BloodPop, Punctual, and Di Genius. The album features guest appearances from 070 Shake and Mahalia. My 21st Century Blues received acclaim from critics, with some publications including Variety naming it as one of the best albums of 2023. It lyrically explores themes including Raye's struggles with addiction, misogyny, insecurity, body dysmorphia, and sexual assault.
"Escapism" is a song by British singer and songwriter Raye featuring American rapper 070 Shake. It was released independently on 12 October 2022 as the third single from her debut album My 21st Century Blues (2023) as a double A-side with "The Thrill Is Gone". It was co-written by Raye, 070 Shake and Mike Sabath, with Sabath handling production. "Escapism" is an uptempo R&B, electropop and hip hop song with lyrics speaking of escaping from reality and dealing with heartbreak.