Little Mix girls support RAYE with the release of her debut album
Girl Power! 💪
Last updated 8th Feb 2023
RAYE dropped her hugely anticipated debut album 'My 21st Century Blues' on 3rd February. The album features her Number 1 track 'Escapism', and a handful of collaborations. Now, following the album's release she had received great support from some very famous faces.
Who has supported RAYE's new album?
Two members of Little Mix, Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, both took to their Instagram Stories to support RAYE, who has written songs for them in the past.
Sharing RAYE's post announcing her album, Leigh-Anne wrote: 'Everyone go and download this masterpiece @raye we fricken love youuuu'. (sic)
While, Perrie shared a screenshot of the album page on iTunes, showing she'd purchased the album, writing: '@raye what you do as an independent artist blows my mind! I want you to win at life so bad. There's no one more deserving! Please can everyone go get this album on iTunes, or stream or whatever you kids do these days!'.
RAYE shared Perrie and Leigh-Anne's Stories thanking them for their support.
Jax Jones has also supported RAYE. The pair did a collaboration back in 2018, 'You Don't Know Me' which Jax described as a life-changing song for him.
After the release of RAYE's album he shared a video on Instagram telling his fans: A little insight into ‘you don’t know me’ - the song that turned my life upside down. Special mentions go to @raye who is showing the world how gifted she is right now. go check out her album 21st Century Blues - we applaud 👏'.
How did RAYE promote her new album?
The singer celebrated the release of her new album with an elaborate pop up in London, which saw people carrying white instruments, dressed in white suits, running through the streets. They had the word RAYE and Feb 3 written on their jackets as they were being chased by others wearing black suits.
The moments were shared by fans, who couldn't quite believe their eyes. RAYE shared a selection of these videos on her Stories.
Eventually, the people dressed in white escaped by jumping into a white lorry filled with more white instruments, similar to the album artwork.
Following the huge success of 'Escapism' on TikTok, fans have been longing for more information about the new record, take a look at more information below.
How did RAYE announce the tracklist for her album?
In January, RAYE took to Instagram to share a handwritten list of the songs included on her debut album, she said: 'Here she is, the full tracklist to my debut album My 21st Century Blues coming 3rd February 2023 🫀🫀🫀'.
The first photo showed RAYE holding a notepad, with the tracklist written on it in gold pen. The songs names are surrounded by doodles of a trumpet, ice cream, a dress, hearts and musical notes.
The second pic shared by RAYE has artwork for her album, showing the song list split into sides A and B. Underneath the song names is a pile of white musical instruments, some with red writing, topped with two red stilettos.
Fans were quick to comment on the tracklist from RAYE saying: '🤩🤩🤩YAYAYAYAY', another wrote: 'I’m so ready to hear what you have to share 🤩'.
Singer Zara Larsson also commented with emojis: '😍😍'.
What is the tracklist for RAYE's debut album?
'My 21st Century Blues' has 15 tracks on it, including an introduction. See the full list below...
- 'Introduction'
- 'Oscar Winning Tears'
- 'Hard Out Here'
- 'Black Mascara'
- 'Escapism' feat. 070 Shake
- 'Mary Jane'
- 'The Thrill Is Gone'
- 'Ice Cream Man'
- 'Flip a Switch'
- 'Body Dysmorphia'
- 'Environmental Anxiety'
- 'Five Star Hotels' feat. Mahalia
- 'Worth It'
- 'Buss It Down'
- 'Fin'
What is the artwork like for the album?
RAYE shared the artwork for the album back in October 2022, when she announced the album was available to pre-order. The artwork shows the singer standing on top of a pile of white musical instruments, wearing red stilettos.
When is Raye's new album out?
RAYE's debut album 'My 21st Century Blues' was released on 3rd February 2023. The singer announced her album was available to preorder during a performance in 2022, sharing the video a day later captioning it: 'I was suppose to wait til the end of the show but I blurted it out as soon as I got on stage 🥹The moment I announced the pre-order for my debut album last night. My first babyyyy, pre-order now link in bio 😭😭😭'. (sic)
You can hear many of RAYE's songs on heat radio.
Take a look through RAYE's amazing career below:
Before 2014: RAYE
RAYE loved performing from an early age, revealing in an interview that she wanted to be a singer from the age of eight. She attended the prestigious BRIT School, but decided to leave. She explained in an interview with the BBC: "I did two years and learned an extensive amount... but nobody there liked pop music. It's all cool, underground, indie artists. I felt confined. I was ready to get out."
2014: RAYE released 'Welcome to the Winter'
RAYE released her debut EP 'Welcome to the Winter' in December 2014. She also released 'Flowers' and 'Alien' from her EP.
2016: RAYE released 'I, U, Us'
After noticing her vocals on 'Welcome to the Winter', Charli XCX worked with RAYE on 'I, U, Us', directing her music video. RAYE later worked with Charli co-writing her song 'After The Afterparty'.
2016: Jonas Blue released 'By Your Side' featuring RAYE
'By Your Side' gave RAYE her first bit of true chart success as the song with Jonas Blue gets to Number 15 in the UK. It was the third single on Jonas' debut album 'Blue'.
2016: Jax Jones and RAYE released 'You Don't Know Me"
Following her collab with Jonas Blue, RAYE had huge success with Jax Jones on 'You Don't Know Me', which reached Number 3 in the UK.
2017: RAYE released 'Decline' with Mr Eazi
RAYE had even more chart success in 2017 - this time, for the first time, as a lead artist. She released 'Decline' with Mr Eazi and the song reached Number 15 in the UK.
2018: RAYE writes songs for Little Mix's 'LM5' album
RAYE proved she isn't just a talented singer, she's also a great songwriter. The artist worked on Little Mix's album 'LM5' saying: "The Little Mix album, I've been writing for that. For every 10 guys there's one girl, everywhere you go." She went on to explain that it's important for girls to support each other in the music industry.
2019: RAYE wrote a song for Beyoncé's album 'The Gift'
Beyoncé starred in the live-action remake of the classic film, The Lion King, and also recorded an album 'The Gift' to accompany the film. The very talented RAYE worked on one of the tracks for 'The Gift'. Speaking about the experience, RAYE said: "She adores the song, we really got on like a house on fire which is absolutely nuts because that's my idol."
2020: RAYE released 'Euphoric Sad Songs'
RAYE released her debut mini-album 'Euphoric Sad Songs' in November 2020. The album included 'Secrets' with Regard and 'Regardless' with Rudimental.
2020: Regard and RAYE released 'Secret'
Kosovo Albanian DJ Regard and RAYE teamed up for 'Secrets' in 2020. This summer anthem was a hit in the UK reaching the Top 10. 'Secrets' gave RAYE her first BRIT Award nomination in 2021 for British Single.
2021: RAYE at Magnum's Show Your Layers event
RAYE performed her song 'Call On Me' at Magnum's Show Your Layers event. This was the first time the singer had performed her song live.
2021: RAYE is nominated for two BRIT Awards
RAYE teamed up with dance DJ legend David Guetta and Joel Corry on dancefloor banger, 'Bed'. The song was a commercial success for the trio reaching Number 3 in the UK. The song was also nominated at the 2022 BRIT Awards for Song of the Year, but lost out to Adele's 'Easy On Me'. RAYE was also nominated for Best Dance Act at the BRITs.
2022: RAYE confirms she's nearly finished her album
RAYE had posted a couple of times in 2022 saying that her album is close to being done. One post read: 'Finishing this album and having a good bloody time. I am bursting to share this next chapter w u' (sic) accompanied by several photos and videos showing the singer having fun.
October 2022: Debut album release date
RAYE well and truly amped up the excitement for her debut album as she dropped the all-important release date! The singer delighted fans as she revealed that her debut album 'My 21st Century Blues' would be released on 3rd February 2023. The album includes huge tracks such as 'Hard Out Here', 'Black Mascara' and 'Escapism'.
November 2022: RAYE announces her tour
The singer delighted her fans as she announced that she would be taking her debut album on tour in 2023! Announcing the dates on Instagram, she wrote: 'I am thrilled to announce the most special tour of my career so far, My 21st Century Blues tour 🎻❤️🩹🔓🔑 #m21cb'.
December 2022: 'Escapism'
Serving as RAYE's third single from her debut album, it's fair to say that 'Escapism' was a HUGE hit with fans. With the track also taking over fans' For You Pages on TikTok, it quickly shot to the Number 2 spot in the UK Chart. The track also gave RAYE her first ever Number 1 in Ireland!
Dominating TikTok, RAYE took to her own TikTok account to thank fans. Sharing a clip showing the song climbing its way up the charts, she wrote: 'look at what TikTok did What you did in 5 days 😳😳😳😳' (sic).
A sped up version of the track also went viral on the app, with RAYE joking: 'does the sped up version low-key slap more ?' (sic).
January 2023: Opening for Lewis Capaldi
In January 2023, RAYE announced the exciting news that she would be opening shows on Lewis Capaldi's UK arena tour. Sharing the news on Instagram, she revealed that she would be performing tracks from her upcoming album as she opened the shows.
She gushed: 'The lovely man @lewiscapaldi is kindly letting me open his UK arena tour, I get to sing you some songs from my album on these huge stages just before it's released 🥹🫀 I am so grateful for this opportunity thanks Lewis ♥️ xxx'.
February 2023: RAYE released her debut album
RAYE revealed the 15 tracks which would be on her debut album in January 2023. The songs include her songs 'Hard Out Here', 'Black Mascara' and the viral hit 'Escapism' .
She then released the album on 3rd February receiving support from Little Mix's Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock who encouraged fans to buy it.
June 2023: RAYE performs at Glastonbury
In June 2023, RAYE took to the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury to perform a powerful nine-song set. Opening with 'Oscar Winning Tears', she went on to sing tracks from her debut album including 'Ice Cream Man', 'Mary Jane' and 'Five Star Hotels', before closing with huge tracks 'You Don't Know Me' and the sensational 'Escapism'.
September 2023: RAYE announced for Louis Theroux Interviews
The exciting news dropped on 20th September 2023 that RAYE was set to feature on the second season of Louis Theroux Interviews. As per the title, the series sees Louis interview celebrities across the worlds of sport, entertainment and global affairs, exploring their lives and careers so far, including those at pivotal moments in their careers.
BBC Factual wrote: 'In South London Louis meets the newly-independent singer and songwriter, Raye. In a pivotal year that has seen her winning an Ivor Novello and nominated for a Mercury Music Prize, Louis and Raye unpack her journey from her record label split, to her number one single 'Escapism', and a new artistic freedom. Louis also takes to the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury to watch the 25-year-old musician as she marks this new chapter with one of her biggest performances yet.'
October 2023: RAYE releases an orchestral version of her debut album
RAYE released an orchestral version of her debut album 'My 21st Century Blues'. The singer was accompanied by the Heritage Orchestra and Flames Collective, a 30-piece gospel choir on the album.
January 2024: RAYE received seven BRIT Award nominations
RAYE received seven BRIT Award nominations in January 2024. She broke the record for the most nominations in one year by a single artist, including a nomination in the highly coveted Mastercard Album of the Year category.
February 2024: MOBO Award win
RAYE won her first MOBO Award at the ceremony in February 2024, taking home the gong for Best Female Act and beating competition from the likes of Flo, Jorja Smith, Little Simz, Mahalia and PinkPantheress. As she was on tour at the time, she couldn't make it - but sent in a video message where she thanked her family and expressed how sad she was that she couldn't be there in person.
March 2024: RAYE picks up six BRIT Awards
RAYE picked up a massive (record-breaking) six BRIT Awards in March 2024. The singer won Song of the Year with Mastercard ('Escapism'), R&B Act, Best New Artist, Songwriter of The Year, Artist of the Year, Mastercard Album of The Year ('My 21st Century Blues').
Now read:
RAYE: From BRIT school to huge hits like 'Escapism'
David Guetta's most successful songs
Songs you never knew were actually by Jax Jones