"Close your eyes..."

The moment I read Raye was playing Radio City Music Hall, I knew I was going to have to go. I didn’t need to hear her new album to know that show would be an experience I’d regret missing. Her performances consistently make me connect to something bigger out there and “obsessed” doesn’t accurately reflect my relationship with My 21st Century Blues; the way “Black Mascara” spoke to me turned me into a some sort of Raye Missionary - sharing the gospel in text, and audio, messages to every friend I felt needed to hear her. But when I finally heard This Music May Contain Hope, I knew I was going to that show.

Raye is a rare musical artist. Her vocal talent is beyond undebatable - it’s a level that makes me believe purpose is real. But she does something on albums I’ve never experienced before: she acknowledges us. She acknowledges that the nature of music relies on someone listening to it. She acknowledges this relationship and doesn’t take it for granted. She shares herself with an honesty that lets us put our guard down. She shares her experiences, vulnerabilities, and resilience with an openness that could cure the loneliness epidemic if we could put it in capsules and attach them to every piece of junk mail.

The magic of Raye music is perfectly captured in “I Know You’re Hurting”. This song does something rare. Raye sings to us. She sings to strangers who’ve let her into our homes and ears and any other parts of our body her sound waves flow their way into. She doesn’t know who we are or what we’re going through but she knows we’re all going through something. She’s in a different time and place, and we’re going through something that hasn’t happened yet, but she’s going to help the only way she can - by making music for us to listen to. At that moment she’s doing what she can for us in this moment. And she tells us exactly what we need to do: “Close your eyes and let this music get to working.”

I got a ticket.

And then danced to “Life Boat”.

If you can do the same, I recommend it.

Thanks for reading.

Now go listen to some music.

🫀+🎧