Raye's tough to road to success: How school dropout, 26, couldn't convince her first record label to release her songs and used drugs to cope after sexual abuse by A-list music producer - before winning historic SIX Brits

Raye signed with Polydor aged 17 but never released an album with themRead More:  Young Iris Apfel: Throwback photos show fashion icon's incredible ascent as she passes away aged 102

She once described herself a ‘little girl from Croydon with a dream’ – and at last night’s Brit Awards, they all seemed to finally come true for Raye.

The singer-songwriter, 26, from South London, made Brit Award history when she scooped six accolades in one night – beating records set by Blur, Harry Styles and Adele.

Raye, whose full name is Rachel Agatha Keen, won Best New Artist, Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Act, Artist of the Year and Mastercard’s Album of the Year.

For the final award, the star – who was forced to release her music independently after being restricted by a previous record label – was in floods of tears as she was joined by her grandmother on stage.

She said: ‘You just don’t understand what this means to me. I’m ugly crying on national television.

Pictured: Raye seen hugging her emotional grandmother Agatha Dawson as she wins Album of the Year at last night's BRIT Awards

Pictured: Raye seen hugging her emotional grandmother Agatha Dawson as she wins Album of the Year at last night’s BRIT Awards


‘All I ever wanted to be was an artist, and now I’m an artist with an album of the year. Thank you so much, this is too much – come on Grandma, let’s go.’

As a teenager, Raye attended BRIT school for two years before then dropping out because she ‘hated being told how to write a song’.

When she was 17-year-old, the rising star was assaulted by a music producer – and revealed how she turned to alcohol and drugs to cope.

Since then, Raye has appointed her father as her manager while she also works closely with her sister.

In June 2021, Raye revealed that her record label, Polydor Records, had been withholding her debut album for several years – forcing her to then release her music independently.

Here FEMAIL delves into Raye’s incredible rise to fame and her remarkable musical comeback.

South London upbringing and dropping out of school

Rachel Keen was born in Tooting to a Ghanaian-Swiss mother and English father and was one of three daughters.

When Raye was still a child, the family relocated to Croydon – where she attended Woodcote High School.

Pictured: Raye seen performing in Camden in November 2018 when she was still signed with Polydor Records

Pictured: Raye seen performing in Camden in November 2018 when she was still signed with Polydor Records

Raye attended BRIT school for two years before dropping out because she 'hated' being told how to write a song

Raye attended BRIT school for two years before dropping out because she ‘hated’ being told how to write a song

In an interview with F Word magazine, Raye said Croydon was a ‘really great place to grow up’.

She explained: ‘[It is] very down to earth, very multi-cultured, very fun, really great. I grew up in the church as well, so I go to church every Sunday with the family.

‘That’s where I learnt how to sing and understand my love for music.’

When she was 14 years old, Raye was accepted into Brit School – whose alumnae include Adele, Ella Eyre, Jessie J and Leona Lewis.

Speaking to The Times earlier this month, Raye explained how she dropped out of the school after two years because she ‘hated’ being told how to write a song.

She said: ‘It’s not in my nature to follow rules. I didn’t get on with them in school and I don’t understand why they even exist in music.

‘I love songs that don’t do what you expect them to. For me it’s liberating to write something sonically different every time that doesn’t sound like anyone else. Otherwise, what’s the point?’

What’s more, the star also told the BBC that she felt ‘confined’ as a student at Brit school – as other students were all ‘cool, underground, indie artists’.

Raye seen performing at the O2 forum in Kentish Town in April 2016 around the time her music first started playing on the radio

Raye seen performing at the O2 forum in Kentish Town in April 2016 around the time her music first started playing on the radio

Pictured: Raye around the time her music was shortlisted for BBC Music Sound's award in 2017

Pictured: Raye around the time her music was shortlisted for BBC Music Sound’s award in 2017

Bagging first record deal 

When she was 16 years old, radio host Clara Amfo played Raye’s music on her show for the first time.

The following year, she signed a four-album deal with the record label Polydor.

In 2017, she was shortlisted for the BBC Music Sound of… award and came in third place.

After this, she won at the ASCAP London Music Awards and was nominated for a BRIT award for her You Don’t Know Me single in 2018.

Around this time, Raye was assaulted by a music producer – who forced his hand between her legs when she was 17 years old.

Whilst performing on the Pyramid Stage last year at Glastonbury she paused between singing the song saying: ‘This next song is about sexual abuse, and rape, and sexual violence. And I know that’s heavy, okay.

Pictured: Singers Pixie Lott and Raye attend the Attitude Pride Awards 2019, around the time she was still battling her label

Pictured: Singers Pixie Lott and Raye attend the Attitude Pride Awards 2019, around the time she was still battling her label


‘But I also know one in four men and women will experience that in their lifetime. So I know that I’m not alone when I sing this today.’

In an interview with Cosmopolitan last year, she said she still suffers from panic attacks and PTSD regularly.

‘When I think about the panic attacks, the PTSD…you realise that someone’s actions become your burden to carry, and there is nowhere you can put it other than a therapy session,’ she said.

‘Every girl I know in this industry has some sort of story to tell me. The studio is such a vulnerable space.

‘And if you say something, you create an enemy who will spread rumours or blacklist you – and you need those connections to open doors for yourself.

‘Even though the people decide very much what’s consumed on the outside, inside, the music industry is still very much a gatekept society.’

Despite the buzz around her music and her regular appearances at festivals, Raye’s debut album never materialised – as she later revealed she was in a stand-off with her record label.

Battle with record label and turning to drugs 

Raye pictured in 2021. The star signed with Polydor Records when she was 17 but was never able to release an album with her record label

Raye pictured in 2021. The star signed with Polydor Records when she was 17 but was never able to release an album with her record label

In an emotional interview with Lous Theroux last November 2023, Raye revealed that she was ‘constantly in some kind of sedation’ when she first started her career.

During the television interview, Raye said all she wanted was to be ‘in control of her life’ as she discussed her frustration with her old label Polydor for not allowing her to release an album.

During the conversation, Raye admitted to taking ‘codine’ and ‘MDMA’ as she ‘reached her limit’ and had ‘nothing left to lose’.

She said: ‘I think I wasn’t able to get along with my career because I was just constantly in some form of sedation just to get along with it. Whether it be weed or other things which I write about on my album.

The singer, 26, broke down in tears as she revealed that she was 'constantly in some kind of sedation' when she first started her career

The singer, 26, broke down in tears as she revealed that she was ‘constantly in some kind of sedation’ when she first started her career


‘This is the thing, when I became sober, I realised, wow, I can’t do this sober. Like, this is deep. It’s actually deep.

‘It’s so deep what I’d realized I’d actually been doing to myself as a person to try and be somebody that they wanted me to be.

‘And it’s so sad. So I just got into that point where I was just like, “What is my life right now?” “What is the point?”

‘Yeah, so I just was at a point where I just had nothing left to lose. Yeah, so I was just like, “F*** it.” I’ve absolutely reached my limit.’

Raye says she reached breaking point when her label would not let her release an album – which led to her venting her frustrations on social media.

She continued: ‘But that is how far you push me. They either listen to me now, listen to their artists in pain, or we part ways, and they can save themselves this headache because I’m about to make it a headache.’

Pictured: cover work for Raye's debut album My 21st Century Blues, which scooped six awards at last night's BRIT Awards

Pictured: cover work for Raye’s debut album My 21st Century Blues, which scooped six awards at last night’s BRIT Awards

After Raye started giving interviews about her label not allowing her to release her debut album, she was able to part ways with Polydor in 2021.

Raye’s album My 21st Century Blues is her first project as an independent artist

The singer touches on substance abuse, assault and sexual violence and anxiety in her lyrics, and previously explained why she didn’t want to shy away from ‘difficult’ topics.

She told MailOnline: ‘I just want to be a woman discussing uncomfortable topics that we don’t talk about, these are all things I battled with in the darkness and in silence.

‘You hope in writing about these songs and putting them out into the world, you just hope that people hear them, and and relate to them also.

‘It’s very much medicine in a way that you have a different feeling to to put quite a painful emotion to it.

‘For me is just very empowering, and I hope it can be medicine for anyone else who who needs it.’

During her interview with F Word magazine, Raye revealed that her dad is her manager while she also works closely with her sister. One of her younger sister has also had music featured in a Target advert in the US.

Raye added: ‘Music is in all our genes. Mum is the next one, she’s taking some of the workload with Dad. She’s worked in the NHS all her life so she is the next, hopefully in a year or two she will be able to join the team and it’ll be a full family empire.’

TikTok support

Raye's success is in part due to TikTok, where her single 'Escapism' has been used in over 700,000 videos

Raye’s success is in part due to TikTok, where her single ‘Escapism’ has been used in over 700,000 videos

In January 2023, Raye’s single ‘Escapism’ went to UK number one and became a huge hit on TikTok. The single now has been used in over 700,000 videos on the social media platform.

The star partnered up with TikTok for the launch of their #ElectronicMusic campaign in September and her single Call on Me was also named the platform’s Song of the Summer in 2021.

Speaking to Cosmo Middle East, Raye explained how she never expected to gain such success on TikTok.

She said: ‘I think my sister pointed it out [it was blowing up on TikTok]. I checked, and it had like 1000 videos made to the sound.

‘I was like “oh that’s exciting!” and then the next day it was 2000 and it just kept doubling out of nowhere and I was like “wow!”

‘It’s the kind of thing you can’t plan. You can’t be like “Okay I’m gonna have a viral hit”. You know, it just doesn’t work like that. I’m just grateful that TikTok was like “Yeah we like that. Let’s make so many videos to it”. I was very overwhelmed.’

Despite her music’s sudden surge in popularity, Raye told The Times she does her own makeup and hair while on tour.

She also bought a house in Streatham, South-West London two years and continues living with her two sisters.

 Career-defining turnaround at BRITs

Raye’s incredible sweep at the Brits last night marks one of the music industry’s greatest ever comebacks – just three years after Polydor refused to release any of her albums.

This led to Raye leaving the company and releasing her critically acclaimed, and now award winning, debut My 21st Century Blues as an independent artist.

The singer/songwriter scooped the Song of the year award for her hit Escapism ft 070 Shake, shortly before also taking home the R&B Act gong and Best New Artist.

The 26-year-old has been shortlisted in seven categories - the most by any artist in one year- including two separate nods in the Song of the Year category for 'Prada' and 'Escapism'

The 26-year-old has been shortlisted in seven categories – the most by any artist in one year- including two separate nods in the Song of the Year category for ‘Prada’ and ‘Escapism’


‘I’m shaking. I don’t really know what to say right now, but… thank you. I’ve always dreamed of saying that,’ she said as the reached the podium to accept her first award of the night.

Referencing her new beginning in her Best New Artist Speech, Raye said: ”I have to thank my mum and my dad who are also part of my team, and my grandma. Yes grandma! I, in ways, do feel like a new artist. I released my first song when I was 15, my first mixtape when I was 16, don’t go and listen to it because it’s not that good any more.

‘But I do feel like a new artist, I got to start again. The artist I was three years ago would not believe what she’s seeing today. I’m my own boss now, I’m in control. Thank you!’

She also scooped the first ever BRIT Award for R&B act, which is voted for by the public via Instagram and is a new standalone genre category after musicians and fans complained about R&B being conjoined with the pop last year.

Pictured: BRIT Awards host Clara Amfo hugs Raye after presenting her with an award. The host first played Raye's music 10 years ago on the radio

Pictured: BRIT Awards host Clara Amfo hugs Raye after presenting her with an award. The host first played Raye’s music 10 years ago on the radio

Raye acknowledged the the uproar in her speech, telling the crowd: ‘Look I just wanna say, when I was about 16, 15 years old, I wanted to be an R&B artist, that’s what I would say. And I was told, I think, a lie that R&B doesn’t sell in the UK so I needed to learn how to make different kinds of music.’

‘I know that’s a bit shady but I need to say R&B is so important and there are so many R&B artists in the UK eating it up. I wanna shout out to Mahalia, who campaigned for this award, Cleo Sol, who’s immaculate, Sault. This really is a lot – thank you.’

Raye also won Songwriter of the Year, which was announced ahead of the live ceremony, with host Clara Amfo handing her the gong in a surprise moment after her Best New Artist win.

Clara – who gave Raye her first ever radio play – told the star: ‘There is no such thing as an overnight success, I am so proud of you.’

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