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‘She has worn her heart on her sleeve’: how Raye went from major-label frustration to seven Brit nominations

Whether she wins or not, the singer-songwriter has already made history and could do so again if she sweeps the board tomorrow

Her subsequent commercial and critical acclaim has surely caused her former label to eat humble pie: in 2022 she scored a UK No 1 and global hit with Escapism (featuring rapper 070 Shake), a song Raye has said that Polydor turned down. Her lyrical candour – addressing sexual assault within the music industry, body image issues and substance abuse – and easy straddling of rap, R&B and electronic production has attracted a fervent young listenership, and she will perform high on the bill at this year’s teen-focused Reading and Leeds festivals. In 2024, pop fans have a greater understanding of the machinations of the music industry than ever before, thanks in large part to Taylor Swift’s project to re-record and reclaim ownership over her first six albums after the master recordings were sold by her former label.

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