Raye has revealed that just 18 months ago her career had ‘gone to hell’ and she was performing in front of just 100 people.
The 26-year-old singer reflected on her struggles in a new interview, saying there were a lot of ups and downs to get where she is today.
It comes as she broke records at the BRIT Awards on Saturday night, winning six gongs at a star-studded ceremony at London’s O2 Arena.
She took home the first gong presented that evening, Song of the Year for her hit Escapism ft 070 Shake, shortly before also taking home the R&B Act gong and Best New Artist.
Raye’s incredible victory over the British marked one of the music industry’s biggest comebacks ever – just three years after Polydor refused to release one of her albums.
Raye has revealed that just 18 months ago her career had ‘gone to hell’ and she was performing in front of just 100 people
The singer, 26, reflected on her struggles in a new interview as she talked about how there were a lot of ups and downs to get where she is today (seen during a performance in 2018)
This led to Raye leaving the company and releasing her critically acclaimed and now award-winning debut My 21st Century Blues as an independent artist.
She said The times on her struggles in recent years: ‘I’m just happy to be here: 18 months ago my career was on the rocks. I remember seeing my live agent at a gig.
‘I went to him, with tears in my eyes, and begged him not to abandon me. I told him I had more fight in me. A week later he set up this little tour.
‘There were a hundred tickets per room; I sat at the piano for two hours and talked to the audience through my story so far. If anyone had said then that I would be at the O2 in less than two years, even I would have thought he was crazy.’
She was in tears when she later accepted Album Of The Year, Artist Of The Year and Songwriter Of The Year at the Brits, at one point bringing her beloved grandmother on stage.
The star now holds the record for the most Brits won in a single ceremony, a record that previously stood at four, jointly held by Blur (1995), Adele (2016) and Harry Styles (2023).
Raye was nominated eight times – the most ever for a single artist in a single year – including winning song of the year twice, for Escapism, which won the title, and for Prada.
Referring to her new beginnings in her Best New Artist Speech, Raye said: “I have to thank my mother and father, who are also part of my team, and my grandmother. Yes grandma! I feel like a new artist in a way. I released my first song when I was 15, my first mixtape when I was 16. Don’t listen to it because it’s not that good anymore.
It comes as she broke records at the BRIT Awards on Saturday night, winning six gongs at a star-studded ceremony at London’s O2 Arena (seen with her grandmother Agatha Dawson on stage)
Raye’s incredible victory over the British marked one of the music industry’s biggest comebacks ever – just three years after Polydor refused to release one of her albums (seen in 2016)
‘But I do feel like a new artist, I have to start over. The artist I was three years ago wouldn’t believe what she sees today. I’m my own boss now, I’m in control. Thank you!’
She also scooped the first-ever BRIT Award for R&B Act, which is voted for by the public via Instagram and is a new standalone genre category after musicians and fans complained last year that R&B was being conflated with pop.
Raye acknowledged the uproar in her speech, telling the audience, “Look, I just want to say, when I was about 16, 15 years old, I wanted to be an R&B artist, that’s what I would say.
She won the first gong presented that evening, Song of the Year for her hit Escapism ft 070 Shake, shortly before also taking home the R&B Act gong and Best New Artist.
She told The Times of her struggles in recent years: ‘I’m just happy to be here: 18 months ago my career was going to shit. I remember seeing my live agent at a gig.”
“And I was told a lie, I think, that R&B doesn’t sell in Britain, so I had to learn how to make different types of music.”
“I know this is a bit dark, but I have to say that R&B is so important and there are so many R&B artists in Britain eating it up. I would like to appeal to Mahalia, who campaigned for this award, Cleo Sol, who is impeccable, Sault. This is really a lot – thank you.’
Raye also won Songwriter of the Year, which was announced ahead of the live ceremony, with host Clara Amfo presenting her with the gong in a surprise moment after her win for Best New Artist.
Clara – who gave Raye her first ever radio play – told the star: ‘There’s no such thing as an overnight success, I’m so proud of you.’