RAYE, who has recently made history by winning six BRIT Awards for his album 'My 21st Century Blues' (2023), has released a new single. 'Genesis' takes the sound of 'Escapism' one step further by extending to seven minutes in length.
RAYE's excessive ambition is evident in the different parts or sections of 'Genesis', which can be heard separately on platforms. Originally titled 'Let There Be Light', 'Genesis' mixes hip-hop, gospel and, in the final part, changes gears to big band jazz. Rachel Keen, who sings like Billie Holiday, is terrified of jazz.
In this piece orchestrated with impressive strings, the name of Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins appears in the production although it may not seem like it and, above all, a lyric stands out that speaks of insecurities and lack of self-esteem, like other RAYE songs, but also of alcoholism, suicidal ideations and governments that “lie” and “murder on the other side of the Atlantic.”
The political message of 'Genesis' is so intentional that RAYE quotes Nina Simone in the press release: “It is the duty of the artist to reflect his time.”
The fate of 'Genesis' is unknown, although its similarity to 'Escapism' and other cuts from 'My 21st Century Blues', such as 'Worth It', suggests that a possible reissue of the album could be moving forward, more than a year after. its launch. To say the least, 'Genesis' is the most ambitious composition of RAYE's career. Historical? Probably, too.
