Raye stormed the BRIT Awards on Saturday night, blowing all previously held records straight out the water.
Not only did the 26-year-old South London star make BRITs history ahead of the ceremony by being the most-nominated artist of all time with seven nominations – by taking home a mammoth six wins, she now she beats Adele, Harry Styles and Blur, who jointly held the record for the most BRITs at a single ceremony (four).
And what a glorious occasion it was. Raye’s incredible journey to this well-deserved recognition was right there with her – particularly in the emotional moment that she brought her grandmother, Agatha, on stage – as she scooped gong after gong, taking home six out of her seven nominations. If you’re still catching up, they were: Album of the Year, Best Artist, Best Songwriter, Best R&B Act, Best New Artist, Best Song.
“I’m ugly crying on national television,” she wailed after winning the biggest award of the night for Album of the Year.
Gareth Cattermole
Watching Raye scoop win after win at tonight’s BRIT Awards – barefoot, self-assured, entirely owning the room, she reminded me (right down to her hooded eyeliner and the beauty spot above her lip) of another multi BRIT Award winner and Brit School graduate: Amy Winehouse. But unlike the phenomenal yet ultimately tragic Amy, Raye is – as she said herself – entirely in control of her own career and her own destiny. “I’m in control, I’m my own boss,” she declared triumphantly on stage as she was presented with Best New Artist, her fourth gong of the night, by her long-term friend and champion, Radio One presenter and BRITs co-host, Clara Amfo.
And in that moment, the world was reminded of her incredible backstory. Raye ditched her former record label Polydor after they refused to release her own music, after she gained success writing hit songs for other artists including Beyonce, Rihanna and Little Mix.
Speaking out on social media in June 2021, the Ghanian-Swiss singer, who had been signed to the label since 2014, revealed she had “albums on albums of music sat in folders collecting dust.” She insisted: “I have worked and waited and hustled and given EVERYthing I have and if I am going to suffer I am NOT going to do it in silence anymore. I’m done being a polite pop star. I want to make my album now, please that is all I want.” So she was released from her contract one month later, announcing on social media that she was releasing her music independently. “Today I am speaking to you as an independent artist,” she said at the time.
It was brave, it was ballsy, it was trademark Raye. She basically blew up her career to save her career – and what a save it has proven to be.
She was a David taking on Goliath – tonight, she’s won. And she’s won all our hearts in the process. Congratulations Raye.