Ghanaian-British singer, RAYE Makes History at BRIT Awards
RAYE, Ghanaian -British singer
Global sensation RAYE achieved a historic feat last night at the BRIT Awards when she won an astounding six awards, setting a record for the most wins in a single year. This was the biggest night in British music history for the independent singer-songwriter.
She not only became the first female to win Songwriter of the Year, but she also won Best New Artist, Best R&B Act, Album of the Year, Song of the Year (“Escapism”), and Artist of the Year. A medley of songs from her highly regarded debut album, My 21st Century Blues, including hits like “Escapism” and “Ice Cream Man,” was performed by RAYE during the ceremony, setting off a career-defining moment for her. Following that, on April 13 and 20, RAYE will make her Coachella debut.
RAYE led the charge last night, taking home the title of most nominated artist in a single BRITs year with a record-breaking seven nominations overall. This is a first for any artist since the BRITs began in 1977, surpassing the previous record of six nominations held by Gorillaz (2002), Craig David (2001), and Robbie Williams (1999). With her six award wins tonight, RAYE breaks the record for most wins in a single night at the BRIT Awards, beating the previous record of four set by Blur (1995), Adele (2016), and Harry Styles (2023).
RAYE said she was “so honored and blown away” to be receiving her first BRIT Award as Songwriter of the Year. “I will treasure this trophy very much,” the London-born musician added. “I am so grateful to be recognized as a songwriter as this is a craft I am so passionate about and have been since I started my journey as a musician, and I’m very grateful to those who voted for me to have this award.”
About RAYE
With eight Top 20 UK hits, five billion Spotify streams worldwide, an Ivor Novello Award, and a history of penning songs for the biggest names in the business, British singer-songwriter RAYE is undeniably one of the biggest stars in the music business today. Raye’s rise to fame since her debut in 2014 has been incredible. Her eagerly anticipated independent debut album My 21st Century Blues took off, earning her an unprecedented seven BRIT Award nominations in 2024—the most for any artist in a single year. As a welcome result of her self-fulfilling work, RAYE unknowingly created the song that became synonymous with 2023.
In addition to becoming the best-selling single by a female British artist in 2023, the worldwide hit “Escapism” also gave RAYE her first #1 in the UK and an entry on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it has since been certified Platinum. RAYE performed 130 headline shows, including a thrilling set at Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage, after supporting tours with Lewis Capaldi, Kali Uchis, and SZA. Her momentous performance at Royal Albert Hall, complete with a gospel choir and a 50-piece orchestra, was captured on camera for a once-in-a-lifetime BBC special. Reviewers hailed RAYE as “the most talented artist since Adele and Amy Winehouse” (The Telegraph). Prior to making her Coachella debut this year, she is getting ready to perform her “My 21st Century Symphony” to a sold-out crowd of 20,000 at The O2 Arena.
She has appeared in numerous publications over the past year, including The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Pitchfork, V Magazine, NPR Music, People, Vulture, and many more. She has also graced the covers of magazines like GQ, Cosmopolitan, Wonderland, Bricks, Euphoria, Time Out, and DIY. In addition to a career-defining appearance on NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series, RAYE’s season of high-profile television appearances this year includes appearances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Later… with Jools Holland, and The Graham Norton Show, all across the world. Along with Pink Panther, Ice Spice, and Nessa Barrett, RAYE was also included in Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS Shapewear collection campaign. Currently, she is part of H&M’s global Move campaign, which is being viewed in 76 countries.
RAYE was born in Tooting, London, to an English father originally from Yorkshire and a Ghanaian-Swiss mother who works as a mental health worker. Raye’s middle name ‘Agatha’ is also the name of her grandmother. She grew up singing gospel music in a church where her mother was a choir member and her father served as the musical director. The 2024 iHeartRadio Music Award nominee will make her Coachella debut on April 13 and 20, 2024, so stay tuned for more from her.