RAYE

RAYE (born Rachel Agatha Keen, 1997) is an English singer, songwriter and producer from Croydon, South London. She began writing songs as a child, trained at the BRIT School, and entered the industry as a hired songwriter, co-writing hits for other artists including Blonde's «All Cried Out» before her own catalogue caught up. Her early singles leaned toward club-ready dance-pop, often built around guest features, but her sound has since deepened into a more personal blend of soul, R&B and pop songwriting.

The turning point came with her 2023 debut album My 21st Century Blues, which she released independently after a public split from her former label and years of frustration at being confined to feature-artist status. The record showcased her range as a vocalist and storyteller, moving through jazzy soul, torch-song balladry and rap-inflected pop on tracks like «Escapism.» and «Ice Cream Man.». The album's success, including major awards recognition, reframed her as a leading voice in British R&B rather than a background collaborator.

RAYE's music is distinguished by expressive, technically agile vocals, candid lyricism about mental health, exploitation in the industry and relationships, and genre-fluid production that moves comfortably between electronic, soul and hip-hop textures. She has collaborated across genres with artists ranging from Nas early in her career to numerous pop and dance producers, and remains known for controlling her own artistic direction after years of industry pushback.