Escapism. The tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by seeking entertainment or engaging in fantasy. For me, my for of escapism lies in the techno beats produced and released by British singer-songwriter RAYE.
My 21st Century Blues is RAYE's debut album and although this is her first album, she is not new to the music industry in any way. She's written tracks for Beyonce, Ellie Goulding, and John Legend, and has collaborated with EDM artists like David Guetta. RAYE has taken advantage of her newfound creative control to craft the music she wants to make. She fuses elements of blues and synth-pop with her own style and channels her rage, trauma, and frustration into this candid and beautiful record.
The first track, "Introduction", plays on the title of the album, creating a 21st century blues club vibe. The track leads into her next song, "Oscar Winning Tears" which contrasts the club-like feel of "Introduction". This song is a powerful ballad that describes a manipulative relationship that she refuses to continue to stay in. Though intended for chronological listening, the album is a compilation of songs RAYE wanted to release over the years, but couldn't due to the constraints of her previous record label, so the album lacks a cohesive storyline.
The first single on the album, "Hard Out Here." was her first independent release in June 2022. She channels her rage as the song escalates into a condemnation of male executives within the music industry. The song is in reference to how she had been silences by her previous record label and the instances of sexual assault she experienced. She recalims her name in the track "Hard out Here.", "Ice Cream Man.", and "Black Mascara.
My 21st Century Blues covers a huge scope of contemporary dilemmas like the climate crisis and body image with “Environmental Anxiety.” and “Body Dysmorphia.” The busy humming at the start of “Environmental Anxiety.” foreshadows the chaotic lyrics, which spiral into a frenzy of worries that RAYE voices. The song’s lyrics are quite literally anxiety-inducing as RAYE runs through lists of uncontrollable matters like the state of the climate crisis, the overconsumption of social media, and the selection of world leaders.
“Escapism.,” featuring a verse by 070 Shake, is undoubtedly the highlight of this album. With dark, sultry lyrics set to a catchy beat, the song describes the descent into a cycle of alcoholism, drug abuse, and meaningless sex to deal with heartbreak. She begs her doctor for medications that will numb her feelings. The album comes to a close with “Fin.” — a beautiful tribute to those who contributed to the creation of My 21st Century Blues.
“My 21st Century Blues'' brings a refreshing energy to the music scene with RAYE’s juxtaposition of catchy, upbeat dance tracks with raw, emotional lyrics. With its tracks already trending on platforms like TikTok, the album marks a promising start to RAYE’s independent music career. She has recently brokered a deal to open for Kali Uchis on tour and is currently touring around Europe. My personal favorites are "Black Mascara" and "Escapism", and the release of her album has quickly made me a fan of her music. RAYE prides herself on the independent nature of her album, and told Apple Music:
"This is about me telling the stories I want to tell, in the order I want to tell them, through the sonic landscape I want to tell them."
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