The British artist Raye has been a part of the pop music scene for quite some time, although her name remains unfamiliar to many. Raye aims to change that with her debut album, ‘My 21st Century Blues.’
Rachel Agatha Keen, known as Raye, has primarily made a name for herself as a vocalist on dance tracks. Her vocals can be heard on songs like “By Your Side” by Jonas Blue, “You Don’t Know Me” by Jax Jones, and “Stay (Don’t Go Away)” by David Guetta. However, she is now taking a different solo direction.
In addition to her vocal talents, Raye has also made her mark as a songwriter, having penned hits for artists such as John Legend, Ellie Goulding, Little Mix, Zara Larsson, Mabel, and even Beyoncé. She has accumulated millions of streams, but her record label didn’t think it was time for a solo album just yet. For Raye, this felt like being trapped in the music industry. She wrote “Hard Out Here” about these challenging years, serving as a warning to newcomers in the music industry.
Raye’s personal lyrics
What sets Raye apart are the subjects of her songs. “Black Mascara,” for instance, recounts her personal experience with drink spiking, a distressingly relevant issue. With a simple dance beat, this track is produced to make you feel like you’re in the club yourself. However, whether the message gets across is still up for debate.
Raye varies her songs between upbeat and slower tempos, sometimes even within the same track. This can work well, as seen on “Escapism,” or not so well, as on “Environmental Anxiety.” The latter is particularly hindered by an annoyingly distorted child’s voice in the background throughout the song. Crazy Frog would be jealous, but its absence would have been preferable.
And then there’s the guitar, making an appearance on “Mary Jane”. Which suddenly introduces a light rock ‘n’ roll side to the album. Surprising and well-executed, but it doesn’t quite fit with the overall picture. Therefore, it stands out as the highlight of ‘My 21st Century Blues’. Such a surprising standout was needed for the album. As Raye, despite having a significant body of work to her name, is still figuring out the direction she wants to walk as a solo artist. This uncertainty is audible, as the album explores various musical directions.
The genres on ‘My 21st Century Blues’
The mix of genres is complete when Raye returns to pop in the last few tracks of ‘My 21st Century Blues’. Songs like “Five Star Hotels,” “Worth It,” and “Buss It Down” reveal her pop artist side. However, the dance and R&B tracks that open the album are the strongest.
All in all, Raye has delivered a solid debut album. It could have been released earlier, allowing the British artist her own music career, but it wasn’t meant to be. Now, we have ‘My 21st Century Blues’. An album that delves into her good and bad experiences in the 21st century. The fact that she’s not yet a household name is evident as she adds a simple sign-off to her album: “Thank you for listening.” Who knows what the future holds for Raye, but let’s hope her modesty endures, as it greatly complements this album.
