The first time I really heard RAYE was a little over a year ago.
Let’s be honest, there are some artists you don’t even realize you’ve listen to before until you start having red thread coming out of your ears because of the potential conspiracy wall developing in your brain. Well, on mine, it all starts with a mind-blowing and boggling performance.
Many might agree with my use of the phrase mind-blowing, but mind-boggling?
Yes, and paired with that descriptive comes an important question, one I’ve repeated like a mantra since the release of RAYE’s first single for her upcoming sophomore album, THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.
When does she breathe?!
RAYE’s breath-taking (literally at times) run near the end of an already memorable performance isn’t even the most impressive part of her performance. Her lyricism is something I imagine will be studied by budding songwriters to come, and with the releases of three new singles, RAYE shows no signs of stopping.
When announcing the album, RAYE stated that “music is medicine,” and “in the process of making the medicine for [her]self,” she could “share it with the world.” Of course with any medicine, there are instructions on how to take it so it is the most beneficial.
The best way to listen to this album is from start to finish since it is suppose to represent the journey from darkness to light. What is more, the songs are split into sections to represent the four seasons, starting with Autumn. Each ‘season’ has four songs, except for Summer, which is made up of the last five songs.
So far, we’ve received a sneak peek into three of the seasons – Winter, Spring, and Summer – and each single seems to promise an epic, but grounded view of not only RAYE’s personal journey, but for those who listen.
Winter – Click Clack Symphony (feat. Hans Zimmer)
I cannot get enough of this song. The click-clacks of heels, the lyrics, the spoken piece at the end, the orchestra. But none of it takes away from the messages of the song. During the dark days, we are going to need some help and your real friends are going to reveal themselves at this time to drag you out of the darkness, even if it is for a moment. Plus, the darkness won’t be forever. In fact, it could lead to you being stronger than you were before.
The music video is the perfect blend of whimsy and real, and I love the tiny nods to The Sound of Music and Alice in Wonderland. Hans Zimmer may not have shown his face during the five minute plus video, but he really didn’t need to. He put his foot all in the music, especially at the end.
Spring: Nightingale Lane
This is a heartbreak song, but instead of focusing on the pain, RAYE urges us to focus on the knowledge and proof we are capable of giving and being shown love. And here is where the hope starting shining through, someday, we will be loved again.
Unlike Click Clack Symphony‘s and WHERE IS MY HUSBAND?‘s music videos, we get a live performance at Abbey Road Studios. Though simpler in comparison to the other two, it does not lack theatricality.
Summer: WHERE IS MY HUSBAND?
The amount of times I’ve seen women use this song to not-so-subtly drop a hint to their boyfriends is innumerable. Though I don’t have a boyfriend to attempt to sing this to, it does not stop me from jamming to this on repeat. It is, to me at this time (I reserve the right to change my mind in the next few hours), the perfect start to the Summer section of the album with its infectious beat.
Leaning into the feel of an old Hollywood film, one can enjoy the antics of RAYE attempting to find her husband. The message near the end is important: find yourself and love will find you!! It is the sign of ultimate hope and a great reminder to all the impatient ladies, me included
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Are you just as eager for midnight?
I don’t expect every song to hit me at a personal level like these three have, but they’ve caused me to be at the edge of seat waiting until the clock strikes midnight so I can delve into the album in its entirety.
I also wish I had space for a record player and vinyl, but one can hope, can they? In the meantime, I’ll have to be satisfied with Spotify.
Let me know what you are looking forward to or if you are here after listening to the album, what you enjoyed from THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.