THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.: RAYE’s Maximalist Journey Through Heart and Healing

THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE. is RAYE’S boldest, most expansive work yet.

Written by Elspeth Chapman

RAYE first emerged in the UK music scene with polished, chart-oriented dance-pop, gaining mainstream recognition with tracks like ‘Bed’. In 2021, she left her label and went totally independent. She now creates music with a sense of total creative freedom and a feeling of fun that’s infectious, impossible to ignore. This second album is theatrical, vast and deeply personal, the kind of passion project that makes it clear RAYE isn’t interested in playing it safe.

Stretching over an hour, the record shifts effortlessly across styles. Right from the start, it leans into a cinematic and almost theatrical display. Spoken-word passages and lavish instrumentation make it feel like a full production, with RAYE as both narrator and main character. Tracks unfold like scenes, each adding to the story about her vulnerability and resilience. At times, she even acknowledges the mood of a song mid-track, telling the listener, “I told you this was a sad song, I did try and warn you,” a playful break from the music, giving the album a clear emotional and moving story arc.

That theatricality plays out across genres. Smokey jazz-infused tracks like ‘I Hate The Way I Look Today’ are lively and full of swinging instrumentation. Ballads like ‘I Know You’re Hurting.’ and ‘Nightingale Lane.’ layer orchestration to really hit the emotional weight of the lyrics. In ‘Nightingale Lane.’, she vividly places the heartbreak on “the street of the South London suburbs… That’s where my first love kissed me goodbye,” making the song both intensely personal and relatable. Funk grooves appear on ‘Skin & Bones.’, where tension builds “Just skin and bones and lungs and a heart…,” and later she adds, “He’s insane ’cause he thinks he can make love… Without having to love me,” turning a simple groove into something piercingly honest. Cinematic touches, like Hans Zimmer’s contribution to ‘Click Clack Symphony.’, give the record an extra theatrical dimension. Emotional banger ‘Life Boat.’ is almost reminiscent of Fred Again.., bringing that club-ready energy.

Despite the genre hopping, the album never feels erratic. It reflects RAYE’s emotional journey, through self-doubt, heartbreak, and ultimately, hopeful resilience. There’s a sense she’s allowing herself to explore every corner of her musical identity, and that honesty is what makes the album so compelling.

Lyrically, RAYE is at her best when she pairs detail with self-reflection. She tackles insecurity and heartbreak with wit and precision, turning familiar themes into something fresh and intimate. Spoken segments within the album give the record a conversational feel, making the listening experience more intimate than ever. 

Musically, the album thrives on contrast. Upbeat, jazz-leaning arrangements often sit alongside more vulnerable themes, creating a tension that runs throughout. During the album, grand orchestral parts elevate her personal struggles into something more operatic. Her voice remains the anchor, effortlessly adapting to each shift in style while retaining total clarity and control.

One of the album’s standout moments is the six-minute credits in the song ‘Fin.’, where RAYE thanks everyone who worked on the record. It’s such a rare and personal touch, and it makes you really feel the effort and love that went into the album. 

Not everything on the album hits perfectly on first listen, but in a time when so much pop feels made for TikTok or churned out by AI, it’s amazing to hear RAYE just going all in. She’s bold, unafraid to take risks, and fully committed. 

What really defines THIS MUSIC CONTAINS HOPE. is its scale. It is ambitious, busy and at times over-the-top. But that excess feels deliberate rather than careless. In an industry that often favours restraint and formula, RAYE’s willingness to push beyond those limits is what makes the album so exciting.

True to its title, the album lives up to the promise of hope. Despite its focus on challenging emotions, it never feels weighed down by them. Even when dealing with heavy emotions, it never drags you down. Instead, it gradually moves toward something more reassuring, suggesting that growth and healing are possible… even if they’re messy.

In the end, THIS MUSIC CONTAINS HOPE. is a bold and unapologetic statement. It captures an artist fully in control of her vision, embracing complexity rather than shying away from it. The result is a record that feels massive in scope but remains grounded in RAYE’s genuine emotions, a real achievement.