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Who is Raye, the singer behind Beyoncé’s and Charli xcx’s biggest hits?
The 28-year-old British singer, songwriter, and performer Raye, who collaborated with Beyoncé on Cowboy Carter, is finally stepping into the spotlight. After receiving her very first Grammy Award in 2026, the artist has just released her second album, This Music May Contain Hope. A career full of trial and error, a velvet-like voice… Here’s what we love about Raye.
By Erwann Chevalier.
Published on 19 September 2025. Updated on 1 May 2026.
The artist behind the hit song Where Is My Husband!
Raye stepped onto the stage of Coachella in 2024, won the Grammy Award for Best Song for Social Change in 2026, and her hit Where Is My Husband! (2025) is a smash. In March 2025, she also delivered an interpretation of Adele’s song Skyfall at the 97th Academy Awards ceremony celebrating James Bond, alongside Doja Cat and Lisa.
The British singer-songwriter, 28, has now firmly established herself as an artist to watch closely. She first began her music career in the shadow of the most iconic pop stars of our generation.
Raye, the British artist walking in the shadows of Beyoncé and Charli xcx
Recently, Raye shared with emotion on Instagram that she had co-written the brilliant track Riiverdance from Beyoncé’s latest album Cowboy Carter (2024). She had also previously penned songs for Charli xcx, John Legend, Little Mix, and Ellie Goulding. Rachel Agatha Keen, her real name, is the sharp pen behind many hits, such as Home With You (2018) by Madison Beer.
Raye didn’t have an easy start to her career. Influenced by Nina Simone, the singer has a love for R&B, jazz, and blues. She first gained recognition in the late 2010s thanks to her collaborations on very commercial dance hits like You Don’t Know Me (2017) by Jax Jones or By Your Side (2017) by Jonas Blue. A misunderstanding that would take time to fade…
An artist with a rocky path
Often compared to Amy Winehouse — they both attended the prestigious Brit School — the Londoner signed to Polydor Records, but left the label in 2021. Apparently, she wasn’t satisfied with the role her former label gave her.
That year, Raye spoke out on X (formerly Twitter) to denounce how tightly the label controlled her work. “I have had albums on albums of music sat in folders collecting dust, songs I am now giving away to A-list artists because I am still awaiting confirmation that I am good enough to release an album. (…) I’ve been waiting for this day for seven years, and I’m still waiting,” she said.
My 21st Century Blues, a debut album acclaimed by critics
Today, Raye is a true sensation, winning over the hearts of millions of fans and earning accolades at the 2024 Brit Awards. She broke records by taking home six awards in seven categories in a single night, even surpassing artists like Adele and Harry Styles.
Truth be told, her opus My 21st Century Blues (2023) is a resounding success. It features the hit Escapism (2023), with rapper 070 Shake, which went viral on TikTok. The song cleverly blends pop, R&B, electro, and blues. As for her lyrics, Raye dives into crucial and deeply personal themes, such as sexism, insecurity, and body image. Above all, her catchy melodies are enhanced by her soulful, moving voice, which captivates as much as her pin-up aesthetic.
This Music May Contain Hope (2026) by Raye, available now.
