Who is Raye, the singer who beat Dua Lipa and Taylor Swift in the Brit Awards nominations

He called an almost unknown singer Raye was the big surprise of the nominations for the Brit Awardssurpassing figures such as Dua Lipa it’s the same Taylor Swift.

The prestigious Brit Awards of the British phonograph industry They will be presented at a gala evening in London on March 2.

Raye received seven nominations and was not only the most nominated, but set a record for a solo artist, surpassing artists such as Craig David, Gorillaz and Robbie Williams, who on previous occasions had received six each.

Who is Raye?

Raye is the stage name of Rachel Agatha Keen, who is 26 years old and first became known as a successful singer-songwriter and producer of the likes of Beyoncé, Little Mix, Rihanna, David Guetta, John Legend and Ellie Goulding.

The daughter of a Swiss-Ghanaian mother and an English father, she grew up in a musical/religious environment because her family was part of a church choir. Furthermore, there was always a piano in her house and a grandfather who was encouraged to play any instrument.

Since kindergarten, the girl developed her hearing and the first time she opened her mouth in public was in front of parishioners. She quickly became interested in gospel and posted posters of artists such as Stevie Wonder, Wet Wet Wet, Donnie McClurkin and Kirk Franklin in her room.

He composed his first song when he was just ten years old for a school talent show.. He also auditioned with no luck for Britain’s Got Talent. In his discography there are four EPs released before he became famous: Welcome to winter (2015), Second (2016), Side tape (2018) e Euphoric sad songs (2020).

The rise to fame

Raye started 2023 at the top of the Anglo-Saxon country’s charts with Evasion (feat. 070 Shake), from their debut album titled My 21st century blues.

His #1 came to him as an independent artist, that is, without the support of a major record company. “This is proof that you have to believe in yourself,” the multiple-nominee Briton said through tears.

Now, Raye’s nominations include her artist of the yearcategory in which six of the 10 nominations correspond to women.

This is in stark contrast to last year, when there was an all-male top artists list following the merger of the top British male and female artists categories.

In general, 55% of the nominations, both as soloists and as part of a musical group, this year correspond to women.

The list of contenders for the Artist of the Year award is completed by Arlo Parks, Central Cee, Fred, J Hus and Jessie Warey,

Raye’s other nominations include best album, best new artist, best pop performance and two in the best song category: Evasionwith the American rapper 070 Shake, e Pradaa collaboration with Casso and D-Block Europe.

The recent success, in some ways, is a kind of vindication for the singer who fell into depression in 2021 because her label refused to release her debut album, forcing her to release it independently.

“Industry-wise, I was very down,” Raye said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think that trying again would mean seven British nominations!”

Other candidates

To all this, continuing with the line of candidates, Taylor Swift is a nominee in the International Artist of the Year categoryfor which Olivia Rodrigo, Lana del Rey, Asake, Burna Boy, Caroline Polachek, SZA, Kylie Minogue also compete.

The Rolling Stones are nominated for the award for best alternative rock artist.

Whoever aspires to Album of the Year finds themselves with Blur Darren’s balladJ Hus with Beautiful and brutal courtyardLittle Simz with No thank youRaye with My 21st century blues and Young Fathers with Heavy Heavy.