RAYE has topped the UK Albums Chart for the first time ever with her newly released album, This Music May Contain Hope.
The 28-year-old singer went straight in at number one on Friday with her latest record, breaking her own record when her 2023 debut My 21st Century Blues came in the number two spot.
This Music May Contain Hope, which was released last week, has become RAYE’s second chart-topper of the year following the hit single Where Is My Husband!, which reached top spot on the Singles Chart in January.
Olivia Dean’s record The Art of Loving is at number two in the chart, with Kanye West’s new release Bully at number three.
Recently, RAYE talked about the challenging process of her making new music that felt authentic and true.
She confessed on The Zane Lowe Show on Apple Music: “It’s taken every blood cell.”
“If I wasn’t on a stage, I was pouring into this body of work. I’m honestly exhausted — mentally and physically — but in a good way,” the Escapism. artist added.
RAYE then detailed how she took total creative control on the record, acting as executive producer whilst writing every lyric and composing every melody.
She said: “It’s been a labour of absolute passion and love,” but she further explained, “There’s a subconscious rebellion in there. For so long everything had to be simple, minimal, to brief — this BPM, this length, this vibe. It was a miserable existence for me.”
RAYE discussed how other people telling her she “didn’t know who she was” only fuelled the fire, as she stated, “How can I define myself when you keep sending me into rooms with strangers to write top lines in a day?”
She insisted, “I’m not just one thing.”
