EXC: RAYE bags her first ever Number 1 with single Escapism and admits to ‘crying all day’

RAYE has reached the top of the charts for the first time with her new single Escapism, which features singer 070 Shake.

The hitmaker, 25, was overcome with emotion as she learnt of her top spot, telling MailOnline that she had been ‘crying all day’ and was ‘so grateful’.

It comes months after she left her record label to go independent, accusing them of stopping her from releasing an album.

EXCLUSIVE: ‘I’ve been crying all day’: RAYE bags her first ever Number 1 with single Escapism… as she reveals to feeling ‘so grateful’

Her song was released back in October and has recaptured attention post-Christmas with the top spot this week, after previously peaking at Number 2 in December.

RAYE’s single is part of her debut album My 21st Century Blues, which is set to be released on February 3.

She parted ways from former record label Polydor in 2022 after accusing them of stopping her from releasing an album for seven years. 

And talking to MailOnlne, the artist expressed her gratitude for the recognition and joy to have released the single on her own as an independent artist.

Coming soon: RAYE’s single is part of her debut album My 21st Century Blues, which is set to be released on February 3

Grateful: Talking to MailOnlne, the artist expressed her gratitude for the recognition and joy to have released the single on her own as an independent artist

The star explained: ‘I think, in a way I kind of feel like a new artist. You know, with 3 songs out in the world about to release her debut album. I think it’s a different thing being in in control of your career and being free to express yourself.

Continuing: ‘And then release music tied at your own time rather than what other people think is best and what they want you to do. So that, it’s just such a reward.’

RAYE also continued that the Number 1 has had quite the emotional impact on her, admitting that she has been ‘crying all day’.

First look: She recently shared a glimpse of the tracklist for her yet-to-be released album

‘This is different. Feelings of doing it on your own, If that makes sense. I don’t really know what to say, for someone who puts words together for a living.’

The star first stormed the charts with her feature in Jonas Blue’s By Your Side in 2016 and has released a range of music since, but never a full album.

Previously explaining the hold that her record label had on her, she tweeted: ‘I have been on a 4 ALBUM RECORD DEAL since 2014 !!! And haven’t been allowed to put out one album’.

She also expressed that she was ‘sick of being slept on’ in a string of tweets which showed her frustration – before publicly leaving in 2022.

 

 

Frustrated: The musician previously took to Twitter to explain her frustration as she claimed that he record label wouldn’t let her release songs, before leaving to go independent (Tweets from 2021)