RAYE has admitted that she pushed herself to her “limit” while creating her latest album ‘This Music May Contain Hope’.
The South London singer released the album in March after spending three intense years recording the follow up to her hugely successful 2023 debut ‘My 21st Century Blues’, which earned multiple BRIT Awards and widespread critical acclaim.
In a new interview with Billboard, RAYE reflected on how overwhelming her workload became following the breakout success of her debut record and explained how difficult it was to maintain any kind of balance between her personal life and career.
“There just comes a time in your life where, like, you have to, or you choose to, prioritise something over another, so I think in my case, like, work has really been my life for the last year, two years, three years,” she shared.
“But I think this last year with this album, and the amount of touring, and just the vibe in general, I’ve really definitely pushed myself to, like, my limit.”
RAYE explained that she is now hoping to regain a healthier routine after finally completing and releasing the album.
“I’ve worked really, really hard and I’m really happy to, like, finally let this album go and, you know, be able to just have a little bit more balance. So I think now it can just be shows and rest time. Whereas before, it was shows, and then the studio and writing, and editing, and production.”
She also made clear that the intense process was ultimately driven by her own ambition and vision for the project.
“By the way, like, I was the one who chose to make an album like this, and I was the one who had all these ambitious goals and ideas for it, and things I wanted to do and achieve,” she added.
In a glowing five star review of the album, NME praised the project by writing: “‘This Music May Contain Hope’ is RAYE firing on all cylinders and then some. It’s showstopping musical maximalism at its grandest, while still being grounded in relatable experiences and unbridled emotions. Again, it’s admittedly a lot to take in, but that’s also why it’s so glorious, every theatrical flourish and stylistic detour a declaration from RAYE that she is finally making music for herself.”
Later this summer, RAYE is set to headline both Reading and Leeds Festival along with Brighton Pride’s Pride on the Park event.
In August, she will also kick off an extensive North American run supporting Bruno Mars on tour.
Outside of music, RAYE is preparing to make her acting debut in ‘Lineage’, an upcoming film directed by Top Boy filmmaker Yann Demange.
