070 Shake, guest vocalist on Raye's song 'Escapism', discusses the process of creating the song, her struggles with labels and finding freedom, and reflects on time, love, and regrets. Includes information on accessing additional content and supporting the podcast.
'Escapism' captures the yearning to escape reality, born out of a challenging period in Ray's life, characterized by suppressed creativity and the use of drugs.
'Escapism' serves as a testament to the transformative power of music, offering solace and understanding to those who seek to escape their own realities.
Deep dives
The Journey to Creating My 21st Century Blues: Ray's Escape from Mainstream Expectations
Ray, a singer-songwriter and producer, recounts her journey of breaking free from the confines of mainstream music expectations. After splitting with her label, she embarked on a writing retreat with her producer and best friend, Mike Sabbath, which led to the creation of her debut album. The track 'Escapism' captures the yearning to escape reality, born out of a challenging period in Ray's life, characterized by suppressed creativity and the use of drugs. With a focus on prioritizing honest storytelling, Ray crafted the song's narrative with a balance between lyrics and melody, ultimately creating a sonic representation of chaotic escapism. The collaboration with 070 Shake and the incorporation of layered harmonies and production techniques added depth and intensity to the track, showcasing the journey from darkness to empowerment.
Crafting the Sound: Turning a Dark Year Into an Empowering Anthem
In her dark year of isolation and detachment from loved ones, Ray sought to feel anything but the pain within her. 'Escapism' emerged as a powerful anthem disguised as a good night out, representing the desire to transcend sadness through the act of escapism. Rather than opting for a ballad, Ray wanted the music to feel uplifting, capturing the spirit of temporarily leaving pain behind. By prioritizing the storytelling aspect, Ray created a vivid picture through her lyrics, allowing listeners to visualize and connect with the emotions conveyed. To enhance the impact, layered harmonies, strategic production choices, and a key change were added to create a climactic sonic experience, symbolizing the culmination of a blurry chaos.
From Ugliness to Beauty: The Transformative Power of Music
Creating 'Escapism' allowed Ray to turn something ugly and painful into a beautiful and empowering piece of music. By embracing explicit honesty, she was able to fully capture her experience and provide a voice for those who relate to the emotions portrayed in the song. 'Escapism' serves as a testament to the transformative power of music, offering solace and understanding to those who seek to escape their own realities. The collaboration with 070 Shake and the unique production choices further contribute to the song's ability to evoke strong emotions and resonate with listeners on a deep level.
Raye is a singer, songwriter and producer from London. Besides being an artist in her own right, she’s also been a songwriter for other artists since she was a teenager. She’s co-written songs for Beyoncé, Charli XCX, and Ellie Goulding. In 2023, she released her debut album, My 21st Century Blues. The first single, “Escapism," became her first song to hit #1 in the UK. It’s gone platinum in the US, the UK, and seven other countries. It features guest vocals from 070 Shake. When she was here in LA on tour, I talked to Raye about how she made “Escapism.”