In a week dedicated to honoring the vibrant independent music scene, RAYE—one of the industry’s most electrifying talents—treated fans to a rare, intimate performance at New York City’s legendary Blue Note Jazz Club this past Wednesday, June 10.
Fresh off a successful headlining tour and preparing to join Bruno Mars for a series of stadium dates, the London-born star traded expansive arenas for the cozy, storied confines of the West Village venue. The shift in scale did nothing to dampen her presence; her powerhouse vocals resonated throughout the club, seamlessly weaving through jazz-infused arrangements of tracks from her 2023 debut, My 21st Century Blues, and her acclaimed 2026 project, This Music May Contain Hope.
“Honestly, there is nothing I love more than singing jazz,” RAYE remarked after a soulful take on “Cry Me a River.” She clarified, with a playful nod, that it was the original standard she cherished—not the version by Justin Timberlake. “It brings me genuine joy. We’re doing our absolute best to keep this art form alive.”
The set felt refreshingly spontaneous. Throughout the evening, RAYE would occasionally lean toward her band—comprising a bassist, drummer, guitarist, keyboardist, and a four-piece brass section—to call out songs on the fly. “I’ve completely overhauled the setlist,” she admitted with a laugh, noting her affinity for “keeping the band on their toes.”
Her instincts led to standout moments, including a vibrant rendition of “Goodbye Henry,” which featured intricate scatting in place of the Al Green studio feature, alongside reimagined neo-soul versions of her hit “Escapism” and the fan-favorite “Worth It.”
While some fans might have missed her chart-topping smash “Where Is My Husband!,” RAYE offered a candid explanation: she woke up feeling too “single” to sing it. To compensate, she debuted a new track, “Happier Times Ahead,” and dropped a hint about her future work. She revealed the title of her third album will be And Then She Falls in Love, though she insisted she won’t write a single lyric for it until she experiences that love in real life. “I’m finished with the ‘this guy sucks’ era,” she joked. “We are focusing on a positive new chapter.”
She also shared some lighthearted advice for her future self: “Whatever you do, don’t date rappers. I was clearly delusional.”
This exclusive showcase followed a significant milestone for the artist: receiving the Indie Spirit Award at Billboard’s Indie Power Players event just a day prior. Addressing a crowd of industry leaders, RAYE delivered an empowering message to independent artists everywhere, urging them to “dream audaciously” and reject the limitations imposed by those who claim to know the “ceiling” of a creative’s potential.
That tenacity was the heartbeat of Wednesday’s performance, proving that RAYE’s rise is fueled by both undeniable grit and immense musical mastery.
Setlist:
- ”Suzanne”
- ”Goodbye Henry”
- ”Cry Me a River”
- ”Escapism”
- ”Worth It”
- ”Happier Times Ahead”
