How an email to David Guetta ended up with a collab with Joel Corry and RAYE 🙌
Joel Corry has opened up
Last updated 1st Nov 2023
Joel Corry released his banger 'Bed' with RAYE and David Guetta back in 2021, and now the 'Another Friday Night' DJ has opened up about how the collab came about.
In a recent TikTok, Joel explained he was working with songwriter Jin Jin who worked with RAYE regularly. Jin Jin played Joel some of RAYE's demos, and he fell in love with what was to become 'Bed'.
"It was just the chorus, like an a capella'," he explained, going on to say: "I heard it and instantly was just like, oh my god, that's a smash!"
Joel later slid into RAYE's DMs asking if she'd be up for working on the new track, and of course she was, but she mentioned, she'd been working on it with none other than David Guetta.
On hearing this news, Joel revealed how he sent David an email about working together. Joel said: "I was like, right, OK, I sent David like an email, like quite professionally. I didn't know David at this point. I was like Dear David, I love this 'Bed' idea, I would love to work on it. And he came back and like obviously he'd hear 'Head & Heart' stuff, seems like, 'definitely I'm up for working on this'."
'Bed' was released by the trio back in February 2021, and became an instant hit, going to Number 3 in the UK, and seeing success in several other countries.
The music video was released a month later, and stars all three collaborators. In the video, Joel plays a robot, and he admitted in the TikTok that he had some acting lessons for his part.
"I actually did a few lessons on Zoom, on how to be a robot" he explained. "I was like walking around my front room, I actually should have gone (for an) Oscar for that video," he joked.
You can hear songs by Joel Corry on Downtown Radio.
Take a look through some of Joel Corry's biggest collabs:
2019: 'Sorry'
'Sorry' was the song that got Joel Corry noticed in the music industry. The summer anthem was featured on Love Island and became the 'most Shazamed track in one day, with 41,000 Shazams'!
The song was a cover of Monsta Boy's 'Sorry (I Didn't Know)', and although not credited, featured the vocals of Hayley May.
Hayley, who appeared on Britain's Got Talent back in 2013, is a singer/songwriter, who has worked on a lot of dance music tracks. She has also featured on two of Joel's previous tracks 'Good As Gold' and 'Fallen'.
2020: 'Lonely'
Joel's follow-up to 'Sorry' was 'Lonely', which featured his sister in the music video. Despite not crediting the singer on this track, it featured Harlee.
Not much is known about Harlee (real name Harley Jayne Sudworth), but she has also featured on 'Afraid' by James Hype and 'Last Night' by Digital Farm Animals. She is also a songwriter and at the end of 2022 revealed she plans to release some of her own music in 2023.
The music video has now had more than 29 million views.
2020: 'Head & Heart' with MNEK
Joel Corry and MNEK teamed up for their 2020 hit 'Head & Heart', and what a banger it was!
'Head & Heart' celebrated more than 10 weeks at Number 1 in the UK, with a massive 61 weeks in total in the chart. It also became the duo's first UK Number 1.
2021: 'Bed' with David Guetta and RAYE
In 2021, Joel, along with David Guetta and RAYE released 'Bed'. The song was a huge hit reaching Number 3 in the UK and being certified Platinum in the UK.
Speaking about working with RAYE, Joel told us: "The first time I met RAYE in the studio, we just instantly clicked and I just knew that I wanted to work with her so much."
2021: 'Out Out' with Jax Jones featuring Charli XCX and Saweetie
What a collab! 'Out Out' with Jax Jones, Charli XCX and Saweetie was another big hit for Joel. The song topped the UK dance chart and was written by Joel, Jax, Charli XCX and Saweetie, along with a team of writers.
2021: 'I Wish' with Mabel
'I Wish' became Joel's sixth Top 20 hit in the UK. The song was written by a huge team of writers including some famous names such as MNEK, Jess Glynne, Harlee (who featured on 'Lonely'), and of course Joel Corry.
'2022: What Would You Do?' with David Guetta and Bryson Tiller
'What Would You Do?' with David Guetta and Bryson Tiller was released back in March 2022. Although Joel and David had worked together before, this was the first time they'd teamed up with American singer/rapper Bryson Tiller.
2022: 'History' with Becky Hill
Joel Corry and Becky Hill had been teasing a collab for a long time, and finally in August 2022 they dropped 'History', along with a futuristic music video. The song was a Top 20 hit for the pair.
2022: 'Lionheart (Fearless)' with Tom Grennan
Friends Joel and Tom Grennan released their song 'Lionheart (Fearless)' in October 2022. The song became an unofficial World Cup anthem supporting the England team after a version called 'Lionheart (Come On England)' was released at the time of the football tournament.
2023: 'Dance Around It' with Caity Baser
Joel and Caity Baser joined forces on 'Dance Around It'. Speaking about his song, Joel said: "'Dance Around It' has been killing it in my club sets. Working with Caity on this record has been so much fun, she's really talented and I love her energy. The track feels super fresh and it really shows off Caity's personality. I'm buzzing to 'Dance Around It' all summer!"
2023: '0800 Heaven' with Nathan Dawe and Ella Henderson
Joel Corry, Nathan Dawe and Ella Henderson released their banger '0800 Heaven' back in June 2023, followed by an acoustic version a month later. The trio's song was written by Nathan and Ella, with Ella telling us: "This has happened very, very fast. The next thing you know he's (Nathan) sent it to Joel, Joel rings me and he's like, 'I want to come on it, we've got to do it together', and then, here we are, it's happening! So, we're absolutely buzzing.
"It is a really fun record," she continued.
2023: 'Drinkin'' with Rita Ora and MK
Joel Corry, MK and Rita Ora have released their new collab 'Drinkin'', after premiering it at Ibiza Rocks in August 2023. On the day of release they also shared the visualiser with clips from their performance.
2024: 'Higher' with Nathan Dawe and Sacha
Nathan Dawe, Joel Corry and Sacha teamed up for a song called 'Higher'. 'Higher' will be released on 23rd August 2024.
Now read:
Joel Corry reveals why he nearly DIDN'T release 'Head & Heart' with MNEK
How Joel Corry turned 'Sorry' from a garage classic into a Love Island anthem
Joel Corry on why 'Lonely' was a very important record for him