Raye Biography

Rachel Keen, known by the stage name Raye, is a British singer and songwriter. Her most noteworthy songs are features on By Your Side by Jonas Blue and You Don’t Know Me by Jax Jones. The later reached the third spot on the UK Singles Chart. Furthermore, Raye made it into BBC Music‘s Sound of… list of 2017.

Early Life and Inspirations

Raye’s interest in music was born due to her musical heritage. Both her parents and her grandfather were singers. Since the age of ten, she has been composing and learning to play various instruments including the cello, flute, and piano. Her style is a mixture of classic soul/jazz artists such as Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and contemporary R&B ones like Drake and Lauryn Hill.

Music Career

In 2014, the young singer released her first EP Welcome to the Winter. In 2015 she released her debut single Flowers. Another single, Alien, came quickly after that. 2016 came with her second EP, titled, Second. The EP offered two singles: I, U, Us, and Distraction. She gained more exposure due to her collaborations with Jonas Blue and Jax Jones, which made her name appear on the UK charts. In 2017, Raye performed her first concert as a headliner, at London’s nightclub XOYO. Additionally, she was featured on Charli XCX’s After the Afterparty (VIP Mix)

Photo credit: Hillydilly