Raye Zagazora

Rachel Agatha Keen (born 24 October 1997), known professionally as Raye ( ), is a British singer-songwriter. She first rose to prominence after signing with Polydor Records and subsequently releasing dance singles and extended plays (EPs). Raye then gained media attention with her departure from the record label, which allegedly refused to release her debut album.

Raye independently released her debut studio album, '' My 21st Century Blues'' (2023), to critical acclaim. The album's third single, "Escapism", gained popularity in social media and became her first song to top the UK singles chart and enter the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100. At the Brit Awards 2024, Raye won six categories including British Artist of the Year, breaking the record for the artist with the most awards received in a single ceremony of the organization. BBC included Raye on their '' 100 Women'' 2024 list. She received three nominations at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards including Best New Artist.

Lyrically focusing on her own struggles and contemporary issues, the majority of Raye's genre-blending music is influenced by jazz, while also incorporating R&B, pop, and soul. Outside of her own discography, Raye has co-written songs for other musicians, such as Beyoncé, Charli XCX, John Legend, and Little Mix.

Early life

Raye was born as Rachel Agatha Keen on 24 October 1997 in Tooting, London, to a Ghanaian-Swiss mother who is a mental-health worker, and an English father from Yorkshire. She has three younger sisters: the songwriter Abby-Lynn, the musician Lauren, and Katelyn. As a child, Raye frequently attended church where her mother sang in the choir and her father was the musical director. Raye and her family later moved to Croydon, South London, where she grew up and studied at Woodcote High School.

Surrounded by music, Raye first showed interest in becoming a recording artist at the age of eight. She wrote her first song for a concert in Year 6 and performed it at the Southwark Cathedral, after her father taught her how to play the piano. At age 14, Raye was chosen to enter the BRIT School, where she studied for two years before dropping out due to feeling "confined". She spent most of her teenage years learning how to write songs professionally in studio sessions at the weekends.

Career

2014–2018: Early career and breakthrough

In November 2014, at the age of 17, Raye independently uploaded her debut extended play (EP), ''Welcome to the Winter'', to SoundCloud. She wrote, recorded, and co-produced the seven tracks included on the track listing. Olly Alexander, the then-lead singer of the English band Years & Years, discovered the EP's single "Hotbox" through Hype Machine and sent it to the record label he was signed to, Polydor Records. Raye signed a contract with them thereafter. In 2015, she released the single "Alien" featuring Avelino and covered the Years & Years song " Shine", later opening for the band's show at Shepherd's Bush Empire.

Raye's following EP, ''Second'', was released in August 2016 through Polydor. She co-wrote its single "I, U, Us" with the singers Noonie Bao and Charli XCX; the latter also directed the song's music video. The same year, Raye featured on Jonas Blue's " By Your Side" and Jax Jones's " You Don't Know Me", which respectively reached numbers 15 and 3 on the UK singles chart. "By Your Side" became her first song to enter the chart. Months later, she served as an opening act for a concert tour by the singer Jess Glynne.

Raye performed at the club XOYO in London in February 2017, receiving positive reviews from publications; ''The Line of Best Fit'' described her as "a pop powerhouse worth keeping an eye on". She worked on Charli XCX's "After the Afterparty", and appeared on the "VIP" remix to the song with the singer Rita Ora and the rapper Stefflon Don. Raye starred on the music video for the Stormzy song "Big For Your Boots" in the same month, and featured on the track "Dreamer" from Charli XCX's collaborative project ''Number 1 Angel'' (2017). The singles "The Line (Raye song), The Line" and "Decline (song), Decline" were also released in 2017; the latter featured the singer Mr Eazi. Her third EP, ''Side Tape'', premiered in 2018, following the release of the single "Cigarette", in collaboration with the singer Mabel (singer), Mabel and Don. In parallel, Raye received writing credits on songs by the girl group Little Mix and the singer John Legend. In June, Raye performed at the Summertime Ball in London, held by the radio network Capital (radio network), Capital. Later in 2018, she released a stand-alone single dedicated to her friends and supported Ora and the singer-songwriter Halsey (singer), Halsey on their respective concert tours. Raye embarked on her first headlining tour at the end of the year.

2019–2021: ''Euphoric Sad Songs'' and departure from Polydor

In 2019, Raye featured on the Odunsi the Engine song "Tipsy" and the David Guetta song "Stay (Don't Go Away)", released in March and May, respectively. The latter became Raye's first number-one song on ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' US Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart issued for 13 July 2019. She supported the singer Khalid (American singer), Khalid on his Free Spirit World Tour. Raye co-wrote the track "Bigger (Beyoncé song), Bigger" by the singer Beyoncé, which featured on the soundtrack album ''The Lion King: The Gift'', released in July 2019. BBC News believed that it was "arguably her biggest song-writing credit" at the time. Between August and November 2019, Raye released the solo single "Love Me Again (Raye song), Love Me Again" and the collaboration "Make It to Heaven" with Guetta and the producer Morten Breum, Morten.

In early 2020, Raye released "Tequila (Jax Jones, Martin Solveig and Raye song), Tequila" in collaboration with Jax Jones and the DJ Martin Solveig, and "Secrets (Regard and Raye song), Secrets" with the DJ Regard (DJ), Regard. "Secrets" peaked at number six in the United Kingdom and was Music recording certification, certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). In July 2020, Raye released "Natalie Don't", which preceded her project ''Euphoric Sad Songs'', released in November. It included previously released songs alongside the singles "Love of Your Life" and "Regardless (Raye and Rudimental song), Regardless", the latter in collaboration with Rudimental. The project centred on the Five stages of grief, stages of grief. The critic Rachel Aroesti from ''The Guardian'' gave it a mixed review; she opined it lives up to its title but lacks personality.

Raye, the DJ Joel Corry, and Guetta released the collaborative single "Bed (Joel Corry, Raye and David Guetta song), Bed" in February 2021. 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. Additionally, it topped the US Dance/Mix Show Airplay. She co-wrote and co-produced the song "Let Them Know" by Mabel. In June 2021, Raye released "Call On Me", a song written for her sister and intended to serve as the lead single for her debut studio album. Later that month, she revealed that Polydor Records had been withholding her debut album for several years. The statement received support from fellow artists including Charli XCX, MNEK, and Rina Sawayama. Following this, Raye went on a hiatus, and later announced that she had parted ways with the label to work as an independent artist. Raye closed the year performing her Euphoric Sad Show headline UK and Ireland tour.

2022–present: ''My 21st Century Blues'' and international recognition

Raye was signed to the distribution company Human Re Sources in mid-2022, and began to own her master recordings. On 30 June, she released her first independent single following her departure from Polydor, "Hard Out Here (Raye song), Hard Out Here", alongside a music video depicting the early stages of an artist. The second single, "Black Mascara", was released in August 2022, and was followed by a dual single in October: "Escapism", featuring the rapper 070 Shake, and "The Thrill is Gone". All singles were part of 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, and was met with acclaim from music critics. In support of ''My 21st Century Blues'', Raye embarked on a mini tour entitled The Story So Far, which marked her first headlining shows in Europe and North America. This was followed by the My 21st Century Blues Tour from February 2023 to February 2024. "Escapism" went viral on social media and became Raye's first number-one song in the UK, three months after its original release. It also made her appear on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for the first time. By the end of 2023, ''My 21st Century Blues'' had sold more than 60,000 copies in the United Kingdom. ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Kyle Denis said that she gained "not just a successful album era, but also a devoted fan base and solidified career".

Throughout 2023, Raye opened for Lewis Capaldi's Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent Tour in the UK, Kali Uchis's Red Moon in Venus Tour in North America, and SZA's SOS Tour in Europe. In American television, Raye sang tracks from ''My 21st Century Blues'' at programs such as ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' and ''The Late Show with Stephen Colbert''. She also performed at the Glastonbury Festival 2023. "Prada (Cassö, Raye and D-Block Europe song), Prada" (2023), a collaboration with Cassö and D-Block Europe, reached number two on the UK singles chart and peaked atop the UK Dance Singles and Albums Charts, UK Dance Singles Chart for 31 weeks, later receiving a double platinum certification from the BPI. In October 2023, Raye released ''My 21st Century Symphony (Live at the Royal Albert Hall)'', a live interpretation of songs from the album recorded at the Royal Albert Hall alongside the Heritage Orchestra and the Flames Collective.

Raye performed a medley of some of her songs at the Brit Awards 2024. She was one of the songwriters on the song "Riiverdance" from Beyoncé's country music-inspired album ''Cowboy Carter'' (2024). On 6 April 2024, Raye appeared as the musical guest on ''Saturday Night Live'', alongside host Kristen Wiig; she performed "Escapism" and "Worth It", while also previewing an unreleased song, which was tentatively titled "Let There Be Light" by media publications, before being eventually released as the three-act single "Genesis (Raye song), Genesis" on 7 June. On 25 May 2024, Raye performed her first festival headline slot at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Luton. She served as an opening act for Taylor Swift's the Eras Tour at the final Wembley Stadium show in August 2024. Raye collaborated with the rapper Central Cee on the track "Moi", on which both artists sing and rap in English and French. On 13 September, she Surprise album, surprise-released her second live album, ''Live at Montreux Jazz Festival'', featuring seven tracks recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival, including a cover version of the James Brown song "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" (1966). Months later, Raye revealed that her car was stolen along with finished lyrics for tracks from her upcoming second album.

Raye sang "Oscar Winning Tears" at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on 2 February 2025, as part of a medley performed by nominees for the Best New Artist category. She featured on "Born Again (Lisa song), Born Again" by the Thai rapper and singer Lisa (rapper), Lisa, along with the American rapper Doja Cat; the single was released on 6 February 2025. At the 97th Academy Awards, Raye performed Adele's "Skyfall (song), Skyfall" (2012) as part of a medley in honour to the ''James Bond'' franchise.

Artistry

Music critics and reviewers have described Raye as a singer-songwriter, while additionally categorizing her as a record producer. She is known for her music spanning a variety of genres; critics have predominantly identified it as R&B, pop, jazz, soul, and dance. She has stated that jazz is one of her favourite music genres, which she first discovered through the musicians Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Raye grew up listening to artists such as Jill Scott (singer), Jill Scott, James Brown, Nina Simone, and Alicia Keys. She also incorporated the music of Stevie Wonder and Wet Wet Wet, of whom her father was a fan, and has expressed admiration for Lady Gaga and Christina Aguilera.

Raye explored R&B and electronic music on her EP ''Welcome to the Winter''. "Hotbox", one of its songs, was influenced by progressive R&B artists, including Jhené Aiko and Frank Ocean. According to Raye, Polydor pressured her to release "chart-friendly dance tracks". She then struggled with her own identity, saying that she "didn't know who [she] was" musically, retrospectively believing that her music was not consistent. On ''My 21st Century Blues'', Raye experimented with elements of soul, blues, rap, R&B, hip-hop, pop, Gospel music, gospel, and doo-wop. In one of the three parts of "Genesis", she blended the album's genres while also adding a big band instrumental.

Raye has explored personal and contemporary issues in her music's lyrics. Her first song "Hotbox" describes her first use of marijuana, and she has written about similar encounters in the subsequent years, including on her debut album. ''My 21st Century Blues'' contains recurrent themes such as drug addictions, self-insecurities, and sexual assault. On "Ice Cream Man", Raye sings about her experience being abused by a record producer as a teenager, while on "Body Dysmorphia" she describes her relationship with disordered eating. On "Genesis"—influenced by the Nina Simone quote "It is an artist's duty to reflect the times"—Raye deals with social media and global issues.

Achievements

Throughout her career, Raye has won seven Brit Awards, four Global Awards, two Ivor Novello Awards, and two MTV Europe Music Awards—one as part of Artists for Grenfell. In 2019, she was given a BMI Film & TV Awards, BMI London Award for her "groundbreaking artistry, creative vision and impact on the future of music". She was one of the first recipients of the Brits Billion Award. Raye has also won a Sky Arts Awards, South Bank Sky Arts Award and a MOBO Award. Raye was included on the lists ''Sound of..., Sound of 2017'' and '' 100 Women'' 2024 by BBC, and was named the Musician of the Year at ''Harper's Bazaar'' Woman of the Year 2024 event.

In 2023, ''My 21st Century Blues'' was shortlisted for a Mercury Prize. At the 2024 edition of the Brit Awards, Raye broke the record for the artist with the most wins at a single ceremony, receiving British Artist of the Year, Brit Award for Best New Artist, Best New Artist, Songwriter of the Year—becoming the first female recipient—Brit Award for British R&B Act, Best R&B Act, Brit Award for British Album of the Year, British Album of the Year (for ''My 21st Century Blues''), and Brit Award for Song of the Year, Song of the Year (for "Escapism"). She was nominated for three Grammy Awards at the 67th ceremony including Best New Artist and Grammy Award for Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical, Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical.

Discography

* '' My 21st Century Blues'' (2023)

Tours

Headlining
* Raye Live 2018 Tour (2018)
* Euphoric Sad Show Tour (2021)
* The Story So Far... Tour (2022)
* My 21st Century Blues Tour (2023–2024)

Supporting
* Years & Years – Communion Tour (2015)
* Jess Glynne – Take Me Home Tour (2016)
* Rita Ora – The Girls Tour (2018)
* Halsey (singer), Halsey – Hopeless Fountain Kingdom Tour (2018)
* Khalid (American singer), Khalid – Free Spirit World Tour (2019)
* Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent Tour (2023)
* Kali Uchis – Red Moon in Venus Tour (2023)
* SZA – SOS Tour (2023)
* Taylor Swift – The Eras Tour (2024)

Filmography

Notes

References

External links

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Raye
at MusicBrainz

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raye
1997 births
Living people
Brit Award winners
British dance-pop musicians
English contemporary R&B singers
English mezzo-sopranos
English people of Ghanaian descent
English people of Swiss descent
English women pop singers
English women singer-songwriters
People educated at the BRIT School
People educated at Woodcote High School
People from Tooting
Polydor Records artists
Singers from the London Borough of Wandsworth
Singers from the London Borough of Croydon
21st-century Black British women singers
21st-century English women singers
21st-century English singer-songwriters