For South London singer Raye, the scale of playing stadiums is still a daunting prospect. Now 28, she has released two critically acclaimed studio albums and headlined world tours, but opening for Bruno Mars on his Romantic Tour exposed her to crowds of roughly 70,000 people—a challenge that has instilled in her a sense of professional humility.
“I think people know ‘Where Is My Husband!’” Raye told Time from New Orleans, where the hit single has surpassed one billion streams on Spotify. Yet, performing for audiences primarily there to see another artist offers a stark reality check. “It’s that taste of humility, where you’re like, ‘Right, this person is just staring at me like they are bored out of their mind,’” she admitted. “But it encourages something within you… It’s quite funny, but also healthy.”
This resilience was forged through years of industry setbacks. Born Rachel Agatha Keen, she signed a four-album deal with Polydor in 2014 as a teenager. For seven years, she struggled to release her debut through a label she described as stifling her creativity. During this period, she wrote hits for global stars like Beyoncé and John Legend while waiting for her own moment.
By 2021, Raye reached a breaking point, posting a public plea on social media: “I’m done being a polite pop star. I want to make my album now, please that is all I want.” She was subsequently released from her contract and began her career as an independent artist, co-managed by her parents, Sarah and Paul Keen. Reflecting on the decision, she noted, “The catalyst came when I just had no fear of the worst case scenario anymore.”
Raye channeled her trauma into her 2023 debut album, My 21st Century Blues, which has garnered over two billion streams. The breakout single “Escapism” went viral on TikTok, eventually reaching No. 1 on the U.K. charts. The album’s raw examination of substance abuse and heartache earned her six Brit Awards and three Grammy nominations. Notably, “Ice Cream Man,” which details her experience of sexual assault, won the Harry Belafonte Best Song For Social Change Award at this year’s Grammys.
Her sophomore record, This Music May Contain Hope, marks a shift from unraveling to reconstruction. Shortlisted for the Mercury Prize, the album centers on optimism, with tracks like “I Will Overcome” and “Happier Times Ahead” offering powerful affirmations. “In the wild and difficult times the world is in right now, I just wanted to make something that had hope laced in it,” Raye explained.
The album also embraces her roots in South London. The track “Nightingale Lane,” named after a road in Balham, documents a profound heartbreak. In a promotional stunt, Raye and her team placed an unofficial Blue Plaque outside The Nightingale pub, her ex-partner’s favorite drinking spot, to ensure the memory endured. “You’ve just gotta be creative when you’re independent,” she laughed.
Previously, Raye worried she had already peaked, fearing she would never top the charts again. However, the lead single “Where Is My Husband!” became a cultural phenomenon, topping the U.K. charts in January and becoming a staple for engagement videos and dating content online. The song exemplifies her refusal to be genre-bound, blending pop sensibilities with big-band jazz, funk, and R&B elements.
This artistic freedom is a direct result of removing external pressures. “A massive part of that has come from just removing any external opinions,” she said. “You don’t need too many cooks in the kitchen.” Raye now prioritizes her own creative voice, supported by a close-knit family network, including her mother and sisters, who help keep her grounded.
Beyond music, Raye is expanding her horizons with a film debut in the crime thriller Lineage, directed by Yann Demange, and an upcoming project with Michael B. Jordan. Despite these new ventures, she insists music remains her priority, though a third album will have to wait. “I’m falling in love first!” she quipped, signaling that personal fulfillment remains her current focus.
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