Spotlight: RAYE
R&B/Soul
•
28m
"The GRAMMY Museum welcomed RAYE to the Museum’s intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater for a special evening including a conversation about the making of her debut album, My 21st Century Blues. A performance followed.
RAYE, the 25-year-old south Londoner born Rachel Keen, has experienced a rapid ascent since achieving the inaugural #1 hit of 2023 in the UK. Her long-awaited independent debut album, My 21st Century Blues, made an immediate impact as it debuted at #2 on the UK Official Albums Chart. As a welcome result of her self-fulfilling new work released via Human Re Sources/The Orchard, RAYE unknowingly wrote the song that is now synonymous with 2023 – the chart topping, viral smash “Escapism” featuring 070 Shake. From the radio to the club, the inescapable single placed RAYE on the global map in a whole new way, marking her debut on the Billboard Hot 100 (No. 22) and becoming her first Top 10 at both Pop and Rhythm radio in North America.
The esteemed songwriter – who has penned hits for numerous GRAMMY Award winners and nominees including Beyoncé, John Legend, Ellie Goulding, Charli XCX, David Guetta, Halle Bailey, and Anitta to name only a few – has supported SZA, Kali Uchis, and Lewis Capaldi on their respective sold out tours winning praise from critics around the world. RAYE’s mammoth year of touring continues throughout 2023 as she geared up for the second installment of her 45-date headline 'M21CB Tour' spanning North America, Europe, the UK, and Australia. After playing and owning the pop game, RAYE bet on herself and won."