“Raye is exactly that—a ray of sunlight. Warmth and depth radiate from her, both in person and through that extraordinary voice. The truth sounds better coming from her: powerful, honeyed, vulnerable, and knowing. As heard on her 2026 album, This Music May Contain Hope, she has that rare ability to make something deeply personal feel universal, turning heartbreak, humor, and hard-won honesty into music that reaches straight through you.
I was lucky enough to watch my friend perform at Glastonbury, and seeing her infectious spirit lift thousands of people into a collective reverie was one of those moments I’ll never forget. There was joy, but also something deeper: the sense of watching an artist completely inhabit the place she has earned for herself. Raye has fought for her voice in every sense, and perhaps that’s why we believe her when she sings. There’s no distance between the woman and the artist. She is all heart, all soul—all Raye. “
— Anya Taylor-Joy about Raye for TIME.