Search results for "raye"
single track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 36):
Wildcard (week 36):
Raye feat. Amma & Absolutely – Joy.
Being dropped by her major record label must have been the best that ever happened to Raye. The talent and the songs were already there, but this gave her even more drive to succeed. And boy, did she succeed! Already a live favourite, Joy. (featuring her sisters on vocals) is her swinging new single. Reassuring in many ways!
Joy. by Raye feat. Amma & Absolutely is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
More Raye @ Carte Blanche Music
Follow her on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
You’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far in the Wildcards 2026 playlist.
single track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 38):
Wildcard (week 38):
Raye – Where Is My Husband!
Polydor Records must be at its wit’s end. Signing a talented artist like Raye, trying to force her into the wrong musical mold (clubby dance music) and subsequently having to let her go, only to see her become the star she was always meant to be. That way, both parties got what they deserved: empty hands for the label and huge success for the artist.
Raye’s high-profile departure from Polydor Records earned her the respect of other artists and music lovers alike. But the hits are a result of her talent and determination. She’s got the songs, the voice and the ability to put on a great live performance. She played many festivals last summer, where she already played her new single Where Is My Husband! (with an exclamation point, that’s right). Click here for a stunning live rendition at Lowlands, for instance.
Today, Raye released the studio version, and it’s as great as the live performances. It’s a surging blend of R&B old (blasting horns) and new (her bustling rhythms rooted in hip hop). If you like Christina Aguilera’s Ain’t No Other Man or Crazy In Love by Beyoncé, you’ll love this one.
This week, Raye claims the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. So if you’re looking for her husband, he’s prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
More Raye @ Carte Blanche Music
Follow her on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2025 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
single track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 6):
Wildcard (week 6):
Raye – Worth It.
My 21st Century Blues by Raye is a great album. But it’s taken some time for the best track on it to come out. Finally, that day has come. But let’s start at the beginning…
Raye is the stage name of Rachel Agatha Keen. Before rising to prominence as a solo artist, she was known for writing and producing songs for other acts, including Beyoncé, Zara Larsson, Rihanna, David Guetta, John Legend and Ellie Goulding. Her own career started with guest appearances on commercially successful singles like Jonas Blue’s By Your Side and Jax Jones’ You Don’t Know Me.
I still love her early solo singles like Natalie Don’t and Love Of Your Life, but the best was yet to come. She freed herself from her record deal with Polydor, which allegedly refused to release her solo album. Subsequently, she did so herself, as an independent artist. To much goodwill, support and… success.
Raye already scored a Wildcard with the first single off My 21st Century Blues, The Thrill Is Gone. In fact, it was one of two singles released simultaneously, the other being her worldwide hit Escapism. Almost a year and a half later, she releases Worth It. A song that deserves to become another smash.
The singer says about the track: “The happiest song on the album. Recorded entirely with live instruments, strings and brass, this song is warm and hopeful, it makes me optimistic for brighter days and finding love that completes the picture.”
This week, Raye holds the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. ‘cause she’s Worth It. This implies that it will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for a full seven days.
PS: please also check this great version recorded live @ The Royal Albert Hall.
More Raye @ Carte Blanche Music
Follow her on Facebook | Instagram | X | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2024 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
single track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 42):
Wildcard (week 42):
Raye – The Thrill Is Gone.
I presume Rachel Keen was a happy girl when she signed a record deal with a major record label at the age of 17. Alas, after releasing single after single (with some big hits among them), the label wouldn’t let her release a debut album. And even in 2022, that’s most artists’ big dream. It was Raye’s, anyway.
After addressing this matter via her socials and subsequently parting ways with the label, she’s now an independent artist again. The whole story landed her much goodwill and support, but in the end it comes down to releasing good songs. Well, Raye hasn’t disappointed.
This week, she releases not one, but two singles. Escapism (feat. 070 Shake) is the kind of modern-sounding pop song we’ve come to expect from the singer. The other one is my favourite, however. The Thrill Is Gone has soulful horns and funky arrangements. It was recorded live, with no autotune and no overdubs. Despite it being about the dying spark, it’s an uplifting sounding song. Could’ve been an Amy Winehouse track, but it’s very much a Raye tune.
Oh, and as far as her debut album is concerned: the record, titled My 21st Century Blues, will be out on 3 February 2023.
The Thrill Is Gone by Raye is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. That means it’ll feature prominently at the top of the blog for a whole week.
Recommended as well:
Love Of Your Life
Natalie Don’t
Follow Raye on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2022 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
single track
Raye – Love Of Your Life
Raye – Love Of Your Life
This week, Raye will release her EP Euphoric Sad Songs, a seven-track music project exploring the cycle of grief. Love Of Your Life is the embodiment of the final stage of grief. It represents coming to terms with the trauma and hurt you’ve experienced, and realising that you feel ready to turn a negative into a positive and grow through it.
True to the EP title, it’s a euphoric tune, and true to its theme, it’s as uplifting as can be. This should be the song that propels Raye’s solo career into true stardom.
If you like Dua Lipa’s latest tunes or Kylie’s nu-disco sound, Raye could be the next Love Of Your Life…
Recommended as well:
Raye – Natalie Don’t
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
single track
Raye – Natalie Don’t
Raye – Natalie Don’t
So far, Croydon, South London-based singer Rachel Keen (a.k.a. Raye) has been mostly successful as a featured artist. She worked with everyone from Jax Jones (You Don’t Know Me) to Regard (Secrets) and David Guetta (Stay (Don’t Go Away)), not to mention Charli XCX. But here is the song that’ll make her a star in her own right.
Raye’s new single Natalie Don’t is a desperate appeal to another woman to not steal her man. Speaking of the track, she says: “It’s about that feeling of panic you have when you know you’re losing someone. The song is beautifully hopeless because you know Natalie will do what she wants regardless.”
Natalie Don’t fits perfectly in the nu-disco world Dua Lipa helped shape. The track ends in crescendo thanks to a beautiful, I Will Survive-like string arrangement. It’s taken from a forthcoming seven-track music project exploring the cycle of grief.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
single track
Middle Kids – Beliefs And Prayers
Middle Kids – Beliefs And Prayers
In preparation of their upcoming six-track EP New Songs For Old Problems (out on 24 May), Middle Kids release a third teaser. Following Salt Eyes and Real Thing, the Australian indie rock trio just put out Beliefs And Prayers.
Just like its title, the song is built around two sections. The first half is up-tempo and catchy, with swirling guitars and driving drum patterns. Hannah Joy puts a lot of variety in her vocals, before launching into a soaring chorus. In the second half, things slow down considerably, before building back up to the sweeping chorus.
Based on the singles, the new EP is very unlikely to disappoint.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
playlist
Additions to the Carte Blanche Music playlist (week 36)
Not all, but only the best new music. Added to the playlist this week (alphabetically):
- The Bamboos – Sugar On Top
indie | pop | soul - Calby – Deserve
indie | pop | soul - The Indie Pea – Glass Architecture
indie | pop | rock {AI} - Misfits Together – Oh America (1951)
pop - Raye feat. Amma & Absolutely – Joy. gospel | indie | pop | soul
Check them all in the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music Spotify playlist.
Add it to your library (click ‘+’) to hear the best new music first.
Partly selected via input by Musosoup. Submit your music here. #sustainablecreators
single track, wildcard
Wildcard (week 49):
Wildcard (week 49):
Molly Grace – Bow Wow
If you like artists such as Lizzo, Renée Rapp and Chappell Roan, please meet Molly Grace Zeytoonian! Born on 6 December 2001, she’s an American singer and songwriter. Born to parents of Armenian and Irish descent, Grace is currently based in Nashville. The prolific artist released her first EP Everybody Wants To Know Molly in 2021 and has steadily built a career since then.
Hot on the heels of her first studio album Blush, released just months ago, she comes up with brand new track Bow Wow. Following an intro reminiscent of Salt-N-Pepa’s classic Push It, it catches the same vibe as Raye’s current smash Where Is My Husband! And as far as I’m concerned, it deserves to become just as big a hit as those two. Bow Wow is an extremely catchy tune, that effortlessly blends pop, funk, r&b, soul and disco.
Brilliantly timed as a birthday present for her, Bow Wow by Molly Grace is the new Carte Blanche Music Wildcard. It will be prominently displayed at the top of the blog for an entire week.
More Molly Grace @ Carte Blanche Music
Follow her on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
In the Wildcards 2025 playlist you’ll find all of this year’s Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
werner's weekly
Werner’s Weekly (week 40)
This is Werner’s Weekly, your guide to the best new music, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Alice Merton – Ignorance Is Bliss
(Wildcard this week) - Raye – Where Is My Husband! (Wildcard last week)
- Circa Waves – Old Balloons
- Jim Gardner – Don’t Leave Me Because I Love You
- Nea – Unaffected
- The Temper Trap – Giving Up Air
Listen to each of the tracks via the Werner’s Weekly player below.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
Partly selected via input by Musosoup. Submit your music here. #sustainablecreators
