I dance to beat of own drum, says rebel Raye
NEXT big thing Raye hopes to be music’s new rebel as she rips up the rule book of what’s expected of her.
The singer told Guilty Pleasures she’s determined to blaze a trail in the industry.
‘We’re missing originality,’ she said. ‘Everyone’s copying each other and I nearly got sucked into that.’
She continued: ‘I know I scare my record boss. He’ll say, “Do this… it’s safer, it’s what people want to hear.” I’m like, “No!” I want to go so far from what people want me to do.’
And the pink-haired star, from Croydon, refuses to apply a filter to her appearance.
‘People with a platform should do more to encourage imperfections as opposed to everything being so perfect,’ she said. ‘I got spots on my face and wanted to post it on Instagram. Imperfections are cool.’
Having recently signed with US label Interscope — home of Madonna and Lady Gaga — Raye, 19, admits expectations of her are high. ‘They said, “We think you’re the first artist we’ve worked with in a long time who will break America” — fingers crossed.’
She’s already teed up a collaboration with superstar DJ Calvin Harris but the BBC Sound of 2017 nominee is applying the brakes to her love life.
‘Don’t get me wrong, there are loads of hot guys about but’s it not my time right now,’ she said.
Raye played the Vevo stage at Brighton’s The Great Escape festival at the weekend.
Her new single The Line is out now.
Author: Tom Stichbury
