Raye - My 21st Century Blues 

The Brit pop trailblazer redefines her artistry with her debut album.

Brit-pop trailblazer RAYE on her debut album chooses to redefine her career and pulls out a generational craft for her first full-length project. Battling her EX-label Polydor over artist negligence and fighting their ignorance, her newfound creative freedom sees RAYE attacking those who shadowed her undeniable talent for those 10 years.

Before pressing play on RAYE's debut album, the story is already presented to you in the artwork itself. The face of the album sports a younger, vulnerable RAYE (Raye's sister) standing atop a pile of instruments which are flattening the 'White Men CEO('s)' of Polydor, some of whom hands are crawling up towards her. RAYE while balancing steadily is attempting to wear red heels which are clearly far too big for her. The heels are a pinnacle piece of the story RAYE is telling and it represents a multitude of details in her career leading up to the release of this album. While signed to her previous label she was forced to become someone she was not, a similar message to the outfits she wore within the 'Hard out here’ music video. The ever-changing image that she had little control over, represents how fast she was forced to grow up after beginning her career all the way back when she was only 16 and from then was pushed into boxes and characters she never truly resonated with.

For a debut, it's inexplicably impressive to have such a nuanced and fleshed out piece of art and better yet with such clear, elegant delivery. RAYE is on a steady path to becoming one of the most important artists of our time being unapologetically herself, non conforming and honest gives her all the tools she needs to continue the success she found within this body of work. The album is packed full of genres and sounds. it’s quick and excited to jump around while bending the rules, which for years many artists have been too boxed to do. Song like Hard out here, Escapism and Environmental Anxiety are careless in their forwardness to merge genres together and create its own style of song, they are sheer projections of societal change and real life issues with a touch of true sincerity.

Raye wasted no time within the album, every second counted and every line served its purpose. She hand crafted every moment of the track list and it's in the details no one else would've noticed that allows RAYE's pure passion for perfection to shine through, as she ensured there's no dull moment. She refused to shy away from taking creative liberties and because of her confidence in the approach she took, the product was incredible.

In addition to a phenomenal debut album, her headline tour and 2 stand alone 'one night only' shows in London RAYE, has absolutely no doubt proved herself a vocalist and a talent to watch.

I had the opportunity to attend her one night only symphony at the O2 and it was a reminder to me as to why I began following her career in the first place, despite having seats in the very back and being stranded in the middle of London after the concert it is still the absolute best show I have ever witnessed and to see craft and talent seep out of a human like it does RAYE, inspirational is the only word that can describe her.

With the talent to back it, her music will only grow stronger now she is her own artist. I look forward to what she has next and I have no doubt it will be larger than life and a musical masterpiece.

[originally published February 2023, by Oscar Tanner -2023]