RAYE on being shortlisted for Mercury Awards: “It isn’t one thing I am aspiring to anymore. I am in it with my very own award”

Earlier this yr, RAYE scored her first ever UK primary with the one, “Escapism”, which options 070 Shake. She beforehand reached quantity three within the UK Singles Chart twice, however solely from collaborations when she was signed to Polydor Data. These songs had been Jax Jones’ “You Don’t Know Me” in 2016, and final yr’s Joel Corry and David Guetta collaboration “Mattress”.

Throughout the identical week, she introduced her debut album, My twenty first Century Blues, which has subsequently been shortlisted for the Mercury Prize Award 2023. RAYE additionally leads the nominations for the 2023 AIM Awards, as she has been included in three classes together with, Greatest Unbiased Album, Greatest Unbiased Monitor (Meta), and Greatest Unbiased Video (Vevo).

With all of those accolades to return to phrases with, RAYE admittedly nonetheless hasn’t processed nearly all of this yr. “To be sincere, I am not likely certain how a human being takes in all the pieces that is occurring. It is so sudden and out of nowhere, so I am simply taking it a day at a time. I am simply tremendous humbled and feeling actually, actually blessed.”

“I’ve watched the Mercury Prize and skim concerning the winners throughout the final six or seven years, and now that I am in there, it is simply loopy,” she says. “I used to be saying to my mum on the best way right here, ‘That is so bizarre, is not it?’. It isn’t simply one thing I am watching or aspiring to anymore. I am in it with my very own award… It is actually lovely to really feel heard as an artist, to [to know] that individuals care a couple of physique of labor. I am very grateful to the Mercury’s for the popularity.”

She publicly spoke out concerning the wrestle it has taken to launch her debut album, while being locked right into a contract with a serious label. RAYE was signed to Polydor Data for shut to eight years however wasn’t allowed to document an album. Since she’s been unbiased, she’s been given her flowers.

I’ve been on a 4 ALBUM RECORD DEAL since 2014 !!! And haven’t been allowed to place out one album. ALL I CARE ABOUT is the music. Im sick of being slept on and I’m sick of being in ache about it this isn’t enterprise to me this so private

— RAYE (@raye) June 29, 2021

I’ve carried out all the pieces they requested me, I switched genres, I labored 7 days every week, ask anybody within the music recreation, they know. I’m carried out being a well mannered pop star. I need to make my album now, please that’s all I would like. 😭

— RAYE (@raye) June 29, 2021

RAYE not too long ago collaborated with Stormzy on the monitor, “The Weekend”. In an announcement posted to her Twitter, mentioned mentioned: “a full circle second tbh stormz jumped on a music of mine known as ambition 7 years in the past, and within the lyrics I’m speaking bout how big my desires are, and it’s wild to see how God has blessed us since.”