Raye turns ‘My 21st Century Blues’ into choir-backed symphony with cinematic live album
The singer performed her complete debut album at London's Royal Albert Hall alongside the Heritage Orchestra and the Flames Collective, a 30-piece gospel choir
By Larisha Paul
Raye‘s debut album, My 21st Century Blues, underwent a symphonic reinvention late last month when the singer performed the record in its entirety at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Joined by the Heritage Orchestra and the Flames Collective, a 30-piece gospel choir, the British musician captured those new and elevated arrangements for the recently released live album My 21st Century Symphony (Live at the Royal Albert Hall).
“This live album is probably the most magnificent thing I have ever created,” Raye wrote on Instagram. “I hope you dive into this album on a long drive, a rainy day, a walk in the park or where ever you might desire to digest it … sending you all my fcking love and I hope you can feel it inside every second.”
My 21st Century Blues arrived in February in tandem with the explosion of Raye’s biggest hit to date, the tantalising alternative R&B thriller ‘Escapism.’ Other entries, like ‘Oscar Winning Tears’ and ‘Ice Cream Man,’ gave further shape to the singer’s creative narrative as a complicated storyteller and emotive performer.
“I’ll definitely never take this for granted, especially the creative freedom that I have had to put these songs together. I’m thinking of what I’m going to be able to create next and the potential of what I’ll create before I die,” Raye told Rolling Stone earlier this year. “I know it’s dramatic. I’m very dramatic, but it’s validating. I just always want to be an albums-based artist. I don’t want to be moved by singles.”
She added: “If listeners do get the time, I’d love for them to be able to listen in order. That would be so beautiful. I know some of these songs touch on quite sensitive subjects. I don’t want to trigger anyone or anything like that. I just hope that this album can be medicinal in some way for people, or at least help them start conversations with people they love and trust.”