Raye

Rachel Agatha Keen (born 24 October 1997), known professionally as Raye (stylised in all caps), is an English singer, songwriter and record producer.

Her debut studio album, My 21st Century Blues (2023) was released independently to critical and commercial success, and won Album of the Year at the 2024 BRIT Awards.

Among five other awards for which she was a recipient, Raye broke the record for most wins and nominations received at the ceremony in a single year.

Before her breakthrough as solo artist, she produced and wrote songs for other acts, namely Beyoncé, Little Mix, Rihanna, David Guetta, John Legend and Ellie Goulding.

Rachel Agatha Keen was born on 24 October 1997 in Tooting, London, to a Ghanaian-Swiss mother who is a mental health worker and an English father, originally from Yorkshire.

Raye’s middle name 'Agatha' is also the name of her grandmother.

As a child, she sang gospel songs in a church where her father was the musical director and her mother sang in the choir.

Later, she moved to Croydon, where she studied at Coulsdon Church of England Primary School and Woodcote High School and at age 14 attended BRIT School, before dropping out after two years due to feeling "confined... despite learning an extensive amount."

Keen spent most of her teenage years learning how to write songs professionally in studio sessions at the weekends.

Raye's younger sister, Abby Lynn Keen, is also a singer-songwriter, professionally known as Absolutely.

In December 2014, at the age of 17, Raye released her debut extended play Welcome to the Winter.

Raye released the singles "Flowers" and "Alien" in February and April 2015, respectively, the latter featuring London-based rapper Avelino.

She rose to prominence after her guest appearances on the commercially successful "By Your Side" by Jonas Blue and "You Don't Know Me" by Jax Jones, in 2016 as well as her co-performance on the 2020 single "Secrets" (with Regard) and "Bed" (with David Guetta and Joel Corry) the following year.

She gained media attention following her departure from Polydor Records in the latter year, after the label allegedly refused to release her debut album.

Her 2022 single, "Escapism" (featuring 070 Shake) achieved virality on TikTok before becoming her first song to peak atop the UK Singles Chart.

Furthermore, it reached the top ten in over 22 countries, and became her first entry on the US Billboard Hot 100.

It preceded the release of her debut studio album My 21st Century Blues (2023), which earned Album of the Year nomination at the 2023 Mercury Prize.

That same year, "Prada" (with Cassö and D-Block Europe) topped charts across Europe and, along with "Escapism", earned a nomination for Brit Award for Song of the Year; the latter of which won the award.

In August 2016, Raye released her second EP, Second.

The extended play was preceded by promotional singles "Distraction" and "Ambition", the latter featuring rapper Stormzy.

"I, U, Us" was released as the lead single from the EP in October 2016.

A video was released which was directed by British singer Charli XCX.

A live performance video for the song "Shhh" was released in November 2016.

Raye was featured on Jonas Blue's single "By Your Side".

It was released in October 2016 and peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.

She also featured on Jax Jones' single "You Don't Know Me" in December 2016.

The song, co-written by Raye herself, peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and has been certified double Platinum by the BPI.

In February 2017, Raye performed her first headline concert at XOYO in Shoreditch.

Raye was featured alongside Starrah on the track "Dreamer" from Charli XCX's mixtape Number 1 Angel, which was released in March 2017.

Stand-alone singles, "The Line" and "Sober (Stripped)" were released in May and August, respectively.

In November, Raye released "Decline" (featuring Mr Eazi), which peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart and has been certified Platinum.

In February 2018, Raye released the single titled "Cigarette" (with Mabel and Stefflon Don).

The song peaked at number 41 on the UK Singles Chart and has been certified Silver by the BPI.

In March 2018, Raye collaborated with Kojo Funds and released "Check" which peaked at number 26 in the UK and is certified Gold.

Both "Decline" and "Cigarette" would appear on Raye's third extended play, titled Side Tape, which was released in May 2018.

A video for promotional single "Confidence" (with Maleek Berry and Nana Rogues), was also released that month.

In 2019, she was given a BMI Film & TV Award for her "groundbreaking artistry, creative vision and impact on the future of music."

She has over ten million certified sales in the United Kingdom.

She has also won a Brits Billion Award—becoming one of its first recipients—as well as an Ivor Novello Award, MOBO Award, 6 Brit Awards— becoming the first female recipient to win Songwriter of the Year and a Global Award.

In summary, she has been nominated for eleven Brit Awards, one BET Award, three Popjustice £20 Music Prize, three Ivor Novello Awards, four Global Awards, and three AIM Independent Music Awards.