Written by Davis McClure
Raye’s sophomore studio album “THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.” dropped March 27, 2026.
This is one of the most engaging and immersive projects I’ve ever heard. Each track offers its own unique sound. It feels extremely cinematic. This project is the light at the end of the tunnel.
Not only hope, this album bears a piece of Raye’s soul. It journeys through the stages of the greatest heartbreak she’s ever known. Each song is like a different scene. Different perspectives and sounds; but still tells one cohesive story. One of growth, grieving, and hope!
Intro: Girl Under The Grey Cloud. Raye opens the album by setting the scene. Seven Negronis deep, she stumbles through the rainy streets of Paris, reminiscing on her lost love and finding her way to her hotel with a dead phone. This track is purely narrated and helps identify the character on the album cover.
The second track, “I Will Overcome”, creates the atmosphere for the album. Finding a way forward after experiencing loss. Not only heartbreak, but her experience of being criticized in the public eye. Backed by an orchestra, this song is intense and throws listeners into the album running.
“Some people say I remind them of Amy, some spit through their keyboards, I’ll never amount.” Being an English singer, creating music with similar inspirations styles, it’s likely that the two will be compared in conversation.
“And the evil in insults, the arrows from your tongue,Is the same devils you tortured her with”. Raye takes a moment to point out the hypocrisy in fan culture. While it’s the very same harassment that might have contributed to Winehouse’s decline, fans of her still decide to tear her down. Despite the heavy topics, the song serves as a self assurance anthem that she will overcome adversity.
Raye lightens the mood with an unserious anthem warning the public. Beware… The South London Lover Boy might just cry if you sing this too loudly. This track pokes fun at the pursuit tactics and frail egos of boys (located in South London, in this case).
The chorus is a call and response and Raye breaks the fourth wall by encouraging the listeners to join in.
“Wherever you’re listening…In your house, in your car walking home from work after dark, I need you to repeat after me.”
Girls, stay safe out there, (Sing, girls), Best to stay prepared, sing!
This song has vast dynamics and builds up momentum as it goes on.
The WhatsApp Shakespeare (killer) blends elements of R&B and pop. In the track, Raye calls the subject a “Romeo Fraud” and blends phrases from that time period to stress her “modern-day tragedy”. Despite calling him a killer, no one died in the story. But she did inside when she found out she was “one of seven other leading ladies starring in the new romantic thriller.”
Winter Woman: Describes her experience of becoming cold and taking on the antagonist persona. Raye smokes on her ex-pack in this song while watching her ex with his new girl at the bar. “Watching them from far away, he wraps his arms, I’d die to live inside, around her perfect, little, tiny waist”.
“Have fun with Alice at the bar, as I become the Queen of Hearts”.
In reference to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, she implies that she will gain control and become in control of her suffering. This track features an interpolation of Vivaldi’s ‘Winter’. You can see how much thought and intention was poured into this project.
Click Clack Symphony (feat. Hans Zimmer)
“I eat, sleep, scroll, and work, but there has to be more than just merely existing”. This track is an anthem for the girls night out after a breakup. The sounds of their high heels on the ground create a symphony to empower her.
This song features composer Hans Zimmer. Composer on movies such as The Lion King, Interstellar, Gladiator, etc… further developing the cinematic atmosphere of the album.
“The cold never lasts, my darling, It just teaches the heart how to burn.”
I Know You’re Hurting was written for her friend who was going through it. “I’m thinking of you, dear, I hope you’re okay.” Raye revealed she cried to it weeks after she first wrote it due to her newfound heartbreak. “If you need two more arms to hold these burdens, I am here.” It starts as a piano ballad and is escalated with drums and again the orchestra. This song contains some of the coolest sounding vocal deliveries on the album. It recognizes pain but offers a supporting hand to guide you through it. With music Raye further crafts an infectious perseverance theme. “If you’re listening to this, I need you to hear me now, don’t you give up on your life.” This can also be interpreted as a message to her past self; fighting for her independence as an artist and creative freedom.
Continuing the ‘Not giving up’ theme, Life Boat brings morale back up, instead of just crying, you’re now also in the club. The song features many samples of different people repeating the words “I’m not giving up yet.” It’s a sweet song to bump when you need something to cheer you up.
Once again, the vibe is shifted with “I Hate The Way I Look Today.”
The song travels through her insecurities and self depreciation. “I’m okay to be lonely if I’m lonely and skinny.” but later switches mindsets into self acceptance. “I must let the nice words in, I must try harder to believe it.” The lyrics read more serious than they sound. This song feels like it should be in a black and white film during a boogie.
Goodbye Henry has been on repeat for me since it came out. Featuring The Al Green. This song is the perfect interpretation of bittersweet goodbyes. “I wish you only love, and happiness, when I’m swallowing tears as I’m watching you drive away.” Raye continues to interact with listeners throughout this track. She blends narration into her lyrics in a way that flows perfectly.
“I think of all the memories, some bitter, some sweet, the people I’ve loved and the people I’ll never get to greet.” Green sings. This song feels like a final send off to her lover, despite it not being the album closer. This might represent how grief isn’t linear. You can be in different stages at any time and even six months down the line. If you’re only going to listen to one song off this project, please let it be this one.
The second single, Nightingale Lane, soundtracks Raye loitering in the streets of the ‘ghost town’ of where she used to be in love. It’s a trip down memory lane literally and figuratively. “Somebody loved me once, and someday somebody will again, like the way you loved me on Nightingale Lane.” Raye uses operatic deliveries and (insane) belting to create a transcendent outro. “We never were quite right for each other, but in the absence of passion in my life, I remember how alive love once was.” Even when relationships end badly, it’s human to look back and reminisce on the good. Nostalgia is a mind’s trick. It filters out the bad and highlights the good. This is genuinely one of the most moving songs I’ve ever heard.
Skin & Bones is next. This is a stab at modern dating & hook-up culture. “Just skin and bones, and lungs, and a heart. Two eyes, and a liver, and a nose, and no brain.” Raye lists all of the things that make up the subject.This is a way to humanize the guy despite criticizing him. “He’s insane ’cause he thinks he can make love, without having to love me.” The bar was set on the floor during this phase of her dating life.
WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! Released as a single in 2025, became a viral sensation. The song played during the opening of the Macy’s Day Parade. She performed it at the NFL London Halftime show, and just recently at the iHeartRadio Awards. While the song was released previously, she released an updated version on the album, featuring more horns on the chorus making the song even punchier. This song has given Raye a new audience and platform. The song is an earworm if you’ve somehow managed to miss it.
Fields was originally written by her Grandad Michael.
Raye included a voice memo from her Grandad, questioning about his legacy and missing her. “He said, “Who will hear my songs when I die?” And I told him, “Grandad, so long as God gives me life, I will practice your song and I will give it my best try.”
This song fits perfectly with the rest of the project. Comparing hope to the innocence of a child “Like a child, rolling down a hill, In a field of golden and green, where every burden that weighs on me will fall away like a soft rain and fall into a stream.”
The song works as a conversation between her and her granddad. It creates a new life for his song while still honoring it.
Joy ( Feat. Amma & Absolutely) is serotonin in a bottle. “I declare I am somebody.” This shows the stage of actual acceptance and growth rather than just believing that it’s possible. The song features her sisters and might symbolize finding strength in loved ones.
Happier Times Ahead. Serves as a slice of life piece. It shows the struggles of different everyday people. Highlighting how pain is universal but temporary or at least manageable. It’s what makes us human.
“There’s a girl in a window Watching people passing by as she clutches on her aching heart.”,
“Somewhere in the traffic on Bond Street, a middle-aged man was driving his van. He’s been awful low of late, but he’ll never show his mates he’s a man’s man.”
“Auntie Jean is up crying again, after sixty years of marriage, her Roger has left her alone in the land of the living.”
This song serves as a promise that happier times are ahead. Once again, Raye takes a minute to speak directly to the listener.
“Happier times are coming, alright? The sun exists behind the clouds, it’s right there, just hold on to happier times, alright, darling?”
Fin. We’ve made it to the end of this 73 minute album. And you’ve made it to the end of my essay… “I hope inside this you’ve found something beautiful, she had hoped you’d make it to the seventeenth song.” For the first two minutes, Raye created the perfect song for the ending of a movie. With the ending sounding strikingly similar to “No One Mourns The Wicked”.
For the next four minutes, Raye rolls the credits on “THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.” She proceeds to thank every single person who had a play in the creation of the album. (like seriously every single one). I can’t wait to hear the speech again when she accepts her Grammy for this project.
“ I’m asking polite that if hope didn’t find you, my friend we advise you to listen again.”
Raye is an Independent female artist. She fights for her creative vision and it shows. This album is a true piece of passion. Though there are few parts I wouldn’t say are for me, that’s kind of the whole point. There is something for everyone in this record.
Rating: 10/10
Current Favorites: Goodbye Henry, Nightingale Lane, I Know You’re Hurting