Everything to know about RAYE's debut album 'My 21st Century Blues'
It won British Album of the Year at the BRITs!
Last updated 9th Jul 2025
RAYE dropped her hugely anticipated debut album 'My 21st Century Blues' on 3rd February 2023, featuring her Number 1 track 'Escapism', and a handful of collaborations. On its release, the singer received great support from some very famous faces — including from the likes of Little Mix, who called it a 'masterpiece'.
Now, two years on, the independently-released album's been certified Gold and bagged British Album of the Year at the 2024 Brit Awards. Here's everything there is to know about 'My 21st Century Blues', including which songs were its biggest success, how it helped RAYE make BRITs history and the unique way she promoted the album...
When was Raye's debut album released?
RAYE's debut album 'My 21st Century Blues' was released on 3rd February 2023. The singer announced her album was available to pre-order during a performance in 2022, sharing the video a day later captioning it: 'I was suppose to wait til the end of the show but I blurted it out as soon as I got on stage 🥹The moment I announced the pre-order for my debut album last night. My first babyyyy, pre-order now link in bio 😭😭😭'. (sic)
Where did it come in the chart?
'My 21st Century Blues' went to Number 2 in the UK album chart — and has since been certified Gold, having sold more than 100,000 copies.
Did it win any awards?
Yes! 'My 21st Century Blues' won the 2024 Brit Award for British Album of the Year, going up against competition from J Hus, Little Simz, Blur and Young Fathers. That year, RAYE picked up SIX awards in total, breaking Brit records — and famously saying: "I'm ugly crying on national television."
She said in her acceptance speech: "I'm so proud of this album. I'm in love with music. All I've ever wanted is to be an artist, and now I'm an artist with an album of the year!"
What's the meaning behind the title?
In an interview with the New York Times back in February 2023, RAYE said her album was a chance to "tell my blues" — revealing she wanted to write about truths, aside from the standard heartbreak stories you hear in a lot of music.
The album focuses on drug addiction, body dysmorphia and sexual assault, among other hard-hitting subjects.
Who supported RAYE's album?
Two members of Little Mix, Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, both took to their Instagram Stories to support RAYE, who has written songs for them in the past.
Sharing RAYE's post announcing her album, Leigh-Anne wrote: 'Everyone go and download this masterpiece @raye we fricken love youuuu'. (sic)
While, Perrie shared a screenshot of the album page on iTunes, showing she'd purchased the album, writing: '@raye what you do as an independent artist blows my mind! I want you to win at life so bad. There's no one more deserving! Please can everyone go get this album on iTunes, or stream or whatever you kids do these days!'.
RAYE shared Perrie and Leigh-Anne's Stories thanking them for their support.
Jax Jones has also supported RAYE. The pair did a collaboration back in 2018, 'You Don't Know Me' which Jax described as a life-changing song for him.
After the release of RAYE's album he shared a video on Instagram telling his fans: 'A little insight into ‘you don’t know me’ - the song that turned my life upside down. Special mentions go to @raye who is showing the world how gifted she is right now. go check out her album 21st Century Blues - we applaud 👏'.
How did RAYE promote her album?
The singer celebrated the release of her new album with an elaborate pop up in London, which saw people carrying white instruments, dressed in white suits, running through the streets. They had the word RAYE and Feb 3 written on their jackets as they were being chased by others wearing black suits.
The moments were shared by fans, who couldn't quite believe their eyes. RAYE shared a selection of these videos on her Stories.
Eventually, the people dressed in white escaped by jumping into a white lorry filled with more white instruments, similar to the album artwork.
Following the huge success of 'Escapism' on TikTok, fans were keen for more information about the record.
How did RAYE announce the tracklist for her album?
In January 2023, RAYE took to Instagram to share a handwritten list of the songs included on her debut album, she said: 'Here she is, the full tracklist to my debut album My 21st Century Blues coming 3rd February 2023 🫀🫀🫀'.
The first photo showed RAYE holding a notepad, with the tracklist written on it in gold pen. The songs names are surrounded by doodles of a trumpet, ice cream, a dress, hearts and musical notes.
The second pic shared by RAYE has artwork for her album, showing the song list split into sides A and B. Underneath the song names is a pile of white musical instruments, some with red writing, topped with two red stilettos.
Fans were quick to comment on the tracklist from RAYE saying: '🤩🤩🤩YAYAYAYAY', another wrote: 'I’m so ready to hear what you have to share 🤩'.
Singer Zara Larsson also commented with emojis: '😍😍'.
What is the tracklist for RAYE's debut album?
'My 21st Century Blues' has 15 tracks on it, including an introduction. See the full list below...
- 'Introduction'
- 'Oscar Winning Tears'
- 'Hard Out Here'
- 'Black Mascara'
- 'Escapism' feat. 070 Shake
- 'Mary Jane'
- 'The Thrill Is Gone'
- 'Ice Cream Man'
- 'Flip a Switch'
- 'Body Dysmorphia'
- 'Environmental Anxiety'
- 'Five Star Hotels' feat. Mahalia
- 'Worth It'
- 'Buss It Down'
- 'Fin'
Which songs were the most successful?
'Escapism'
Featuring 070 Shake, 'Escapism' was released in October 2022 and went to Number 1 in the UK chart. It's since been certified 3x Platinum — and has gathered a lot of interest on TikTok too.
'Oscar Winning Tears'
Despite only hitting Number 52 in the UK chart, 'Oscar Winning Tears' has become one of RAYE's most well-known hits. Her performance of the powerful track at the 2025 Grammys was widely praised. It's since been certified Silver.
Did she take the album on tour?
Yes! RAYE announced her 'My 21st Century Blues Tour' in November 2022, heading out across Europe and the US in February and March 2023, including sold out dates in London, Manchester, Dublin and Belfast. The singer then announced she'd be extending the tour, and visiting wider America and Australia, as well as appearing at numerous UK festivals in 2023.
What is the artwork like for the album?
RAYE shared the artwork for the album back in October 2022, when she announced the album was available to pre-order. The artwork shows the singer standing on top of a pile of white musical instruments, wearing red stilettos.
Live recording from the Albert Hall
In September 2023 — seven months after the release of her album — RAYE performed the whole record to a live audience at The Royal Albert Hall, which was recorded and released as her first live album.
In a post uploaded to Instagram, RAYE said: 'My 21st Century Blues: ‘𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐮𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠’ 📼🎥📀🥺 I can’t even begin to explain to you how much this show right here means to me.
'a night at the Royal Albert Hall recording a celebration of this album, some new arrangements and incredible musicianship w an orchestra & gospel choir.
'If this album is as important to you as it is to me, I know I’ll be seeing you. 𝐋𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐑𝐚𝐲𝐞.🫀.' (sic)
You can hear many of RAYE's songs on KISS.
Take a look through RAYE's amazing career below:
Before 2014: RAYE
RAYE loved performing from an early age, revealing in an interview that she wanted to be a singer from eight-years-old. She attended the prestigious BRIT School, but decided to leave. She explained in an interview with the BBC: "I did two years and learned an extensive amount... but nobody there liked pop music. It's all cool, underground, indie artists. I felt confined. I was ready to get out."
2014: RAYE released 'Welcome to the Winter'
RAYE uploaded her debut EP 'Welcome to the Winter' to SoundCloud in December 2014, which contained a total of seven tracks including 'Flowers' and 'Alien'. After being discovered by Olly Alexander of Years and Years fame, Raye was signed to their label, Polydor Records, later covering their track 'Shine' and performing as a support act for them.
2016: RAYE released 'I, U, Us'
After noticing her vocals on 'Welcome to the Winter', Charli XCX worked with RAYE on 'I, U, Us', directing her music video. This was the start of a beautiful collaborative relationship between the pair, as RAYE would later work with Charli, co-writing her song 'After The Afterparty'.
2016: Jonas Blue released 'By Your Side' featuring RAYE
'By Your Side' gave RAYE her first bit of true chart success as the song with Jonas Blue went to Number 15 in the UK. It was the third single on Jonas' debut album 'Blue'.
2016: Jax Jones and RAYE released 'You Don't Know Me"
Following her collab with Jonas Blue, RAYE saw a huge rise in popularity after featuring on Jax Jones' total earworm, 'You Don't Know Me', which reached Number 3 in the UK and has since been certified 3x Platinum in the UK with a whopping 1.8 MILLION UK sales.
2017: RAYE released 'Decline' with Mr Eazi
RAYE had even more chart success in 2017 - this time, for the first time, as a lead artist. She released 'Decline' with Mr Eazi and the song reached Number 15 in the UK. It was then that she revisited Charli XCX and 'After The Afterparty' - co-writing the track and even appearing on the 'VIP' version of the song alongside Rita Ora and Stefflon Don. Additionally, she appeared in the music video for Stormzy's 'Big For Your Boots'.
2018: RAYE writes songs for Little Mix's 'LM5' album
RAYE proved she isn't just a talented singer - she's also a highly skilled songwriter. The artist worked on Little Mix's album 'LM5' saying: "The Little Mix album, I've been writing for that. For every 10 guys there's one girl, everywhere you go," going on to explain that it's important for girls to support each other in the music industry. She also supported Rita Ora and Halsey on tour and even went on her own debut headline tour.
2019: RAYE wrote a song for Beyoncé's album 'The Gift'
Beyoncé starred in the live-action remake of the classic film, The Lion King, and also recorded an album 'The Gift' to accompany the film. The very talented RAYE worked on one of the tracks for 'The Gift'. Speaking about the experience, RAYE said: "She adores the song, we really got on like a house on fire which is absolutely nuts because that's my idol."
2020: More music releases
RAYE released her mini-album 'Euphoric Sad Songs' in November 2020, which included 'Regardless' with Rudimental and 'Secrets' with Kosovo Albanian DJ Regard, with the summer anthem reaching the Top 10 in the UK and landing RAYE her first BRIT Award nomination in 2021 for British Single.
2021: Nominated for two BRIT Awards
RAYE teamed up with dance DJ legend David Guetta and Joel Corry on dancefloor banger, 'Bed'. The song was a commercial success for the trio, reaching Number 3 in the UK as well as being nominated at the 2022 BRIT Awards for Song of the Year, but lost out to Adele's 'Easy On Me'. RAYE was also nominated for Best Dance Act at the BRITs. She also lent her songwriting skills to Mabel, working with her on 'Let Them Know' alongside MNEK and SG Lewis.
2021: 'Call On Me' and split from label
RAYE released 'Call On Me' in the summer of 2021, telling NME that she wrote the track about her sister: "(She) was going through something pretty intense, and I was so heartbroken for her. The lyrics say just call my phone when you're not ok and I'm gonna be there, help you fix everything that is broken and take care of you." The song was planned as the first single from her debut solo album, but she then revealed that her label had been "withholding" her album "for years". Taking to X (then Twitter) in a series of posts at the time, RAYE explained that she'd 'reached breaking point' and that 'I've done everything (they) asked me, I switched genres, I worked seven days a week. I'm done being a polite pop star.' She later parted ways with the label and became an independent artist.
2022: Independent singles
RAYE released her first solo single as an independent artist - 'Hard Out Here', followed by second single 'Black Mascara' which was very popular. She then released third single 'Escapism', and it's fair to say that was a HUGE hit with fans as the track took over For You Pages on TikTok up and down the country. It quickly shot to the Number 1 spot in the UK Charts, gave RAYE her first ever Number 1 in Ireland - and has since been certified Platinum by the BPI.
2023: RAYE released her debut album
Announcing her debut album in October 2022, RAYE released 'My 21st Century Blues' in February 2023. The tracklist includes 'Hard Out Here', 'Black Mascara' and the viral hit 'Escapism', as well as 'Oscar Winning Tears' and 'Worth It'. The record debuted at Number 2, just pipped to the post by Shania Twain's 'Queen Of Me', but has gone on to be certified Gold in the UK with 100,000 sales.
2023: RAYE embarks on her tour
After announcing her tour in November 2022, RAYE went on the 'My 21st Century Blues Tour' from February 2023 to February 2024, performing over 100 dates in Europe, the UK, Ireland, the US and Canada. She even managed to squeeze in performances as a support act to Lewis Capaldi's tour in support of his second album, 'Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent'.
2023: Performing on the Glastonbury Pyramid Stage
In June 2023, RAYE took to the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury to perform a powerful nine-song set. Opening with 'Oscar Winning Tears', she went on to sing tracks from her debut album including 'Ice Cream Man', 'Mary Jane' and 'Five Star Hotels', before closing with huge tracks 'You Don't Know Me' and the sensational 'Escapism'.
2023: Appears on Louis Theroux Interviews
The exciting news dropped in September 2023 that RAYE would feature on the second season of Louis Theroux Interviews. As per the title, the show sees Louis interview celebrities across the worlds of sport, entertainment and global affairs, exploring their lives and careers so far, including those at pivotal moments in their careers.
BBC Factual wrote: 'In South London Louis meets the newly-independent singer and songwriter, Raye. In a pivotal year that has seen her winning an Ivor Novello and nominated for a Mercury Music Prize, Louis and Raye unpack her journey from her record label split, to her number one single 'Escapism', and a new artistic freedom. Louis also takes to the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury to watch the musician as she marks this new chapter with one of her biggest performances yet.'
2023: RAYE releases an orchestral version of her debut album
RAYE released an orchestral version of her debut album 'My 21st Century Blues'. The singer was accompanied by the Heritage Orchestra and Flames Collective, a 30-piece gospel choir on the album. Taking to Instagram, RAYE expressed how proud she was of her debut album's reworking: 'MY 21st Century Symphony is now yours. 🫀😭 This orchestral album is probably the most magnificent thing I have ever created. I hope you dive into this album on a long drive, a rainy day, a walk in the park or where ever you might desire to digest it 🥹.' (sic)
She also worked with legendary film composer Hans Zimmer on the soundtrack to Planet Earth III, creating song 'Mother Nature'. She wrote on Instagram about the experience: 'Hans Zimmer and me and David Attenborough for Planet Earth 3 🌍😭 @hanszimmer thank you for letting me be part of this. "Forgive us Mother Nature for we know not what we do" ~ this lyric breaks my heart but reflects a series and a subject I'm so passionate about. I am so proud to be part of this, working along side these LEGENDS, and also to bastille for adding to the incredible music & score with Hans. wow 🥺.' (sic)
2024: MOBO Award win
RAYE won her first MOBO Award at the ceremony in February 2024, taking home the gong for Best Female Act and beating competition from the likes of Flo, Jorja Smith, Little Simz, Mahalia and PinkPantheress. As she was on tour at the time, she couldn't make it - but sent in a video message where she thanked her family and expressed how sad she was that she couldn't be there in person.
2024: RAYE picks up six BRIT Awards
RAYE picked up a massive (record-breaking) six BRIT Awards in March 2024, having also broken a record for the most nominations in one year by a single artist. The singer won Song of the Year with Mastercard for 'Escapism', R&B Act, Best New Artist, Songwriter of The Year, Artist of the Year and Mastercard Album of The Year for 'My 21st Century Blues'. She also took to the stage in an incredible performance, singing 'Ice Cream Man', 'Prada', and 'Escapism'.
2024: Support for for Taylor Swift
RAYE performed as a support act alongside Paramore at Taylor Swift's final Wembley date on 'The Eras Tour' in what must have been a career highlight for the singer. She wrote on Instagram: 'so grateful to open for taylorswift so grateful for the festivals and shows, so grateful people actually turn up to see us now, so grateful to be a musician, so grateful instagram let me add more pictures in my dump 🎺🥹🥰 big kiss from me ❤️.' (sic)
2025: RAYE performs at the Oscars
On Monday 3rd March 2025, RAYE joined forces with Blackpink star Lisa and Doja Cat to perform a medley of James Bond theme songs at the Oscars. In a post on Instagram after the event, she said: 'was sooo nervous to sing this song because no one can sing Adele like Adele, but I tried my very best. I am just so grateful to the Oscars Academy for this invitation to sing on this stage.' (sic)
This came after her stunning performance at the Grammys in February, where she performed 'Oscar Winning Tears'. Looking gorgeous in a long, black, sparkly dress, she wowed the star-studded audience. So much so, in fact, footage of a delighted Chappell Roan watching her sing went viral.
2025: Wins a BRIT Award
At the 2025 BRIT Awards with Mastercard, RAYE continued her winning streak, picking up an award for R&B ACT promoted by KISS. She couldn't attend the ceremony in person, as she was in the US for the Oscars, but she sent a video message thanking fans.
2025: Glastonbury Pyramid Stage performance
In March 2025, RAYE was announced as a performer for the 2025 Glastonbury Festival. She performed on the prestigious Pyramid Stage on Saturday 28th June, on the same day as Charli XCX, JADE and Doechii, singing an incredible one-hour set which included songs like 'Oscar Winning Tears', 'Suzanne' - her collaboration with Mark Ronson - 'Worth It', 'You Don't Know Me', 'Black Mascara', 'Prada' and 'Escapism'. She even opened the set by debuting her single 'Where Is My Husband!', released later that year in September 2025.
2025: Ivors Academy Honour announced
In July 2025, RAYE was announced to receive an Ivors Academy Honour, with the ceremony taking place in October 2025. The honour was in recognition for 'her campaigning to drive positive change for songwriters and composers'. Speaking about the award, Roberto Neri, Chief Executive of The Ivors Academy said: "An incredible multi award-winning artist, RAYE is the one of the most gifted songwriters of her generation and always gives full respect and voice to fellow writers. She has consistently called for better pay and greater recognition for songwriters, championing structural change to protect the talent behind the music we love. We're proud to honour her with this well-deserved recognition."
2025: 'Where Is My Husband!', second album and tour announcement
RAYE returned with a bang in Autumn 2025, releasing instant classic 'Where Is My Husband!' which debuted at a very impressive Number 4 in the UK charts. Alongside the release of the earworm, RAYE announced her second album would be released in 2026 AND a huge worldwide tour.
Hilariously, RAYE revealed in an interview on The Graham Norton Show that although she was already taking pre-orders for her second album, she hadn't actually finished writing it yet! She explained that it would be out definitely in the "first half of next year", adding that it's a "beautiful process, but it does take time."
2025: Ivors Academy Honours Ceremony
In July 2025, RAYE was announced to receive an Ivors Academy Honour, with the ceremony taking place in October 2025. The honour was in recognition for 'her campaigning to drive positive change for songwriters and composers'. Speaking about the award, Roberto Neri, Chief Executive of The Ivors Academy said: "An incredible multi award-winning artist, RAYE is the one of the most gifted songwriters of her generation and always gives full respect and voice to fellow writers. She has consistently called for better pay and greater recognition for songwriters, championing structural change to protect the talent behind the music we love. We're proud to honour her with this well-deserved recognition."
She collected her well-deserved award at the ceremony on 2nd October 2025. In her acceptance speech, RAYE called on songwriters to work together: "Songwriters, I just want to encourage us - especially in the publishing splits conversations. This industry has become exceptional at dividing us and putting us against each other. I just want to dig deeper into that again; I just want to encourage us when we we're getting into songwriting splits - call each other up, let's have a conversation about what we're going to go back to the record label with. Instead of being individually manipulated and told, 'If you don't approve this split today, the song's not coming out. If you don't approve this split, we're never using you again.' Those lies and manipulation tactics need to just be over. So songwriters, let's eliminate the grey areas, let's eliminate us fighting against each other and let's turn the good fight to the record labels that are going to have to continue to understand that we're not going to stop until songwriters are correctly compensated for their songs."
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