In a heartfelt reflection on her artistry and identity, RAYE addresses the constant comparisons to Amy Winehouse — and why she believes no one can ever replicate the late icon’s brilliance. With a new album on the way, the British singer-songwriter reclaims her story, her power, and her music, standing tall as one of the most authentic voices of her generation.
In her latest Elle interview, RAYE spoke candidly about how she feels when people compare her to the legendary Amy Winehouse — a comparison that has followed her since the breakout success of My 21st Century Blues. While both artists share influences in soul, jazz, and R&B, RAYE made it clear that she doesn’t want to live in anyone’s shadow.
“What Amy did was one of a kind,” she said. “She gave her whole life to her music, and no one can do that again. She was pure magic — and also a mirror of how cruel the industry can be to women who are simply being honest.”
RAYE, who has spoken openly about her struggles with record labels and creative control, drew a powerful parallel between the way the media treated Winehouse and how artists today are still scrutinized and exploited. “Some of the things people say online now are the same kind of poison that destroyed her,” she said. “That same darkness — that same cruelty — still exists.”
Her upcoming album, which she describes as “music as therapy,” includes a song that directly addresses these comparisons. It was, as she explained, her way of processing the pain and reclaiming her narrative. “I had to write it,” she said. “Because silence means you accept what people say about you — and I don’t.”
While RAYE acknowledges the influence Winehouse had on her as a young British artist, she insists on honoring her legacy rather than imitating it. “If Amy hadn’t been treated with such hate and pressure while she was alive, she might still be here,” RAYE said softly. “All I can do now is carry her influence with love — not comparison.”
Following the massive success of My 21st Century Blues, which earned her critical acclaim, multiple BRIT Awards, and a reputation as one of the UK’s most fearless storytellers, RAYE is now preparing for the release of her second album. She describes the project as warmer and more hopeful, filled with “less rage, more reflection.”
“This album is like a hug,” she explained. “It’s still honest and raw, but it’s about healing. It’s about learning to love yourself again after everything falls apart.”
Among the confirmed tracks are “Where Is My Husband!” — already a chart favorite — and two deeply emotional songs, “I Will Overcome” and “Girl Under the Gray Cloud.” Critics who previewed the record describe it as “cinematic, theatrical, and deeply human.”
RAYE also shared how she’s learned to embrace solitude and self-love after years of chaos and burnout. “You have to sit with your shadows,” she said. “It’s painful, but it’s necessary. You have to love the parts of yourself you used to hide.”
In 2026, she’ll take her new music on the road with the “This Tour May Contain New Music” world tour, covering Europe, the UK, and the US — including headlining spots at Reading & Leeds alongside Florence + The Machine, Charli XCX, and DAVE.
Beyond her personal journey, RAYE continues to speak out against toxic industry practices and gender inequality in music. “They tell you the labels work for you,” she said, “but often, you feel like you’re the one working for them.” Her outspokenness about unfair contracts and lack of creative freedom has inspired many young women in the industry to fight for their rights.
Now, free from those constraints, RAYE sounds more confident and grounded than ever. Her artistry thrives on vulnerability — her ability to turn pain into poetry and survival into song. She no longer needs to prove herself by comparison; she has built a sound and soul that are unmistakably her own.
At the end of the day, RAYE doesn’t want to be “the new Amy Winehouse.” She wants to be RAYE — a woman who took heartbreak, struggle, and perseverance, and turned them into something powerful, healing, and beautiful.
