RAYE’s creative freedom is flourishing after breaking free from the shackles of her old record label, reviews Shaikha Rahimi
RAYE closes her hard-fought and long overdue debut album by thanking her loved ones. After hold-ups that delayed her release of a debut album, she speaks directly to the listener over a gently swirling piano riff. “I’ve waited seven years for this moment,” she says. “And My 21st Century Blues. is now out forever.”
At 25-years-old, RAYE, born Rachel Agatha Keen, is a seasoned veteran of the music industry, and in her time she has already seen the darker sides of the industry. At the age of 17, she signed a four-album deal with Polydor Records, but after years of suppression, RAYE publicly split from the label in early 2022. By the end of their deal, RAYE had still not been allowed to release a debut album. She tweeted, “Today, I am speaking to you as an independent artist,” she told her Twitter followers.
In My 21st Century Blues, RAYE sounds confident and content right off the bat. The record arrives on the back of her single Escapism, which very quickly and unexpectedly became RAYE’s first UK No. 1 and first Billboard Hot 100 entry in January 2023. Its varied structure features booming drums, and its lyrics, which are a combination of singing and spoken word, provide an amusing commentary on a night out. The track tells a candid story of self-medication through drugs, alcohol, and sex as a coping mechanism for heartbreak.
RAYE’s fans have gotten used to her floor-filling pop, but Escapism recalls traces of R&B from her previous EPs. The track stands in stark contrast to her comfort formula of dance-pop singles, such as those in collaboration with David Guetta and Jax Jones. RAYE’s vocal ability to switch from fierce to vulnerable is powerful, and it complements the unpredictable drumbeats and melancholic chords just perfectly.
And it doesn’t stop at Escapism. RAYE’s fearlessness is palpable in her lyricism, and it's evident that she has been silenced for far too long. She shares personal stories including the mistreatment she received from the music industry, her critiques on the UK's flawed political system, her battles with addiction and eating disorders, and her encounters with sexual assault.
Her talent for crafting irresistible hooks is apparent throughout the album’s 15 tracks. From the driving rhythm and heavy bass of Escapism. to the infectious house beats of Black Mascara. and the soaring crescendos of Ice Cream Man., her vocals soar over the singalong chorus of Oscar Winning Tears. Her lyricism is a force to be reckoned with, and it’s no surprise other musicians are drawn to her - she lent her songwriting skills to Charli XCX, Little Mix, and even Beyoncé for Bigger from The Lion King: The Gift.
I can’t tell whether RAYE is stepping outside her comfort zone or if her previous record label deal was limiting her creative output to music that they believed would be an assured commercial success. Either way, RAYE is doing great now. On Environmental Anxiety. Raye is fearless. She takes on political issues and addresses the climate crisis. But she also exudes a seductive and slightly menacing energy in Flip A Switch. and Five Star Hotels. featuring British R&B singer Mahalia. She also doesn’t shy away from calling out the flawed patriarchal music industry in Hard Out Here. “All the white men CEOs, fuck your privilege,” she says. “Get your pink chubby hands off my mouth, fuck you think this is?”
It's refreshing to see RAYE venture beyond her usual style, but there's still a lot of enjoyment to be found in her classic retro stylings of tracks like The Thrill is Gone and Worth It. These songs pay homage to classic blues and channels the spirit of Amy Winehouse, offering a nostalgic nod to a bygone era while proving that RAYE is impressive through and through.
My 21st Century Blues. is brimming with talent, candid storytelling, experimentation, and originality. It is clear she has poured her creative energy into this album, making it a testament to the kind of music she has always envisioned and aspired to create. After breaking free from the shackles of her ex-record label, RAYE has found sweet revenge in releasing this record. The excitement is crystal clear as she embarks on a new chapter of her music career, unencumbered by the constraints of the past.
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