"Genesis"

12 June 2024

7 mins

Genesis

How do you follow up a debut album like 'My 21st Century Blues'? Well, this seven-minute single is a good start. 'Genesis' is a three-part, genre-hopping tour de force from Raye, the singer-songwriter who left Polydor Records in 2021 and never looked back.

Part one sheds light on substance abuse in an always online world ("I Googled why I'm still desperate for validation and sedatives"), while part two explores body image issues ("Yes, I edit my pictures to make my waist look slimmer/And make my ass look bigger so that I'm someone you aspire to"). She makes light work of heavy subject matter with deft hip-hop and pop rap motifs.

Part three flips the script musically and lyrically, as Raye goes beyond her pain to demand better for everyone ("For all those overworked and underpaid and dreams of somewhere out of sight/Let there be light"). Like the Spanish Inquisition, nobody expects a shift to big band and gospel music.

The visuals, courtesy of Raye and Otis Dominique, are just as eclectic. Inspired by performance theory, pop choreography, and community spirit, it reflects Raye the artist and Rachel Agatha Keen the person with gusto.

UK

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