RAYE - Black Mascara (Radio Date: 26-08-2022)

RAYE returns with a pulsating and emotional new single 'Black Mascara'.

Written by RAYE and produced by Punctual (Will Lansley and John Morgan), 'Black Mascara' sees trauma unpacked steadily over a hypnotic dance beat anchored by real pain.

RAYE explains: “This song is about another story that has contributed to my ‘blues’. I used the juxtaposition of an upbeat dance track to tell this awful story of being misled by someone I really loved and trusted. While it was a dark low moment, it was also cathartic for me. The lyric ‘once you see my black mascara run from me to my mother’s hands’ is me saying, ‘if only you could actually see the damage that’s been done.’ But I don’t want the story to end there, it’s meant to be empowering, to lend a voice to women like me who may have experienced their own blues in this 21st century. That’s what my album is about really – tackling all of those blues that we experience as a generation. Ironically, this is the only upbeat dance track on the album, but I
used my voice this time to tell a raw unfiltered story.”

Whilst writing before, RAYE admits utilising a dance music framework to fit in with what was happening on the radio. On 'Black Mascara' it's used as a vehicle to allow the song to even exist. "When I am really hurting I can’t listen to sad music. I needed to create something that allowed me to accept the dark space I was in, hence the dark yet euphoric nature of Black Mascara. I was using this song as medicine. This is the only dance song on my upcoming album and it felt like the right second song from this body of work to share with the world."

The stunning and impassioned video for the track also drops today featuring slick choreography perfectly executed by RAYE.

RAYE recently returned to the music scene with the hard hitting, critically acclaimed single 'Hard Out Here'. Playlisted by BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, the track was heralded by PAPER Magazine"outrageous and honest, and incredibly vulnerable."

RAYE was also recently announced as a new addition to BBC Radio 1’s prestigious Brit List, showing a huge commitment to RAYE from the station. “I am in shock and I am so grateful to have been chosen for Radio 1’s Brit List," RAYE says. "I know I am not the exciting fresh new artist on the block, I been releasing music since I was 16, I don’t have a million followers or any albums to boast, so to even have been chosen feels kinda like a miracle. Music is my entire
heart and body and this opportunity means the world.” BBC Radio 1/1Xtra Head of Music Chris Price adds: "Raye is a unique talent with a very clear sense of herself as an artist, vocalist and songwriter, and that’s what drew us to her all along.

It’s no secret that Raye’s journey towards releasing her debut album has taken longer than shewould have liked, but that has given us time to develop a great relationship over several years. Raye invited us to the studio and played us music and visual content that articulated a crystal clear vision for her first full body of work. She’s a multi-dimensional artist unconstrained by genre, so she’s a perfect match for a radio station that thinks exactly the same way.”
Now with 'Black Mascara' RAYE gives another taste of the album to come. This is RAYE part two. It's RAYE on her own terms. It's the RAYE of old, but reloaded. The album features songs made by RAYE, for RAYE, but within that they're for everyone who has faced and overcome adversity. As RAYE says: "My goal is to bring artistic excellence and be as great as I am capable of being. If that catches a wave, then amazing, but I'm not going to let that freak me out or steer my plans or alter my purpose, and that is to put out music I love and believe in.”