RAYE releases new concert album “Live At Montreux Jazz Festival”

RAYE UNVEILS NEW LIVE CONCERT ALBUM
LIVE AT THE MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL

WITH MUSIC BY RAYE'S
Debut album “My 21st Century Blues”, new work “Genesis” and more

Available to stream and buy as 12-inch vinyl today
ABOUT HUMAN RE SOURCES / THE ORCHARD

THE COMPLETE MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL WILL BE RELEASED ON OCTOBER 1
ON RAYES OFFICIAL YOUTUBE HERE

Major upcoming US appearances include:
SOLD OUT GRAMMY MUSEUM PERFORMANCE (SHEEN CENTER),
GLOBAL CITIZENS FESTIVAL (CENTRAL PARK) AND BLUE NOTE WITH ROBERT GLASPER

(New York, NY – September 13, 2024) – Continuation of an already truly sensational year, global sensation RAYE today the live concert album is released, Live at the Montreux Jazz FestivalAvailable to stream and purchase today on 12-inch vinyl via Human Re Sources/The Orchard – LISTEN HERE // BUY HERE.

RAYE recently delivered a stellar performance at the 58th Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, a show that both the festival and RAYE herself found so monumental that she decided to commemorate it with the release of a special digital and 12″ vinyl album. The album cover features a touching picture of RAYE with her Swiss grandfather, who saw RAYE perform for the very first time, making her Montreux debut even more special. Since 1967, the festival has celebrated all genres of music and produced countless legendary performances. Artists who have graced the Montreux stage include Aretha Franklin, David Bowie, Prince, Bob Dylan, Lauryn Hill, Kendrick Lamar, Leonard Cohen, Marvin Gaye, Miles Davis and Nina Simone, to name a few.

BRIT Award record winner RAYE says of the significance of the performance:

“Playing at the Montreux Jazz Festival was one of the greatest musical honors we have ever received. I am so in love and in awe of the history of all the artists who have shared the stage we shared, a festival dedicated to celebrating and providing a platform for true musicianship. I am so proud of the day we were able to stand on that stage. I left the stage feeling extremely elated.

It was also at that moment that my mother's father, Hans, my wonderful Swiss grandfather, saw me sing for the first time. That was the most beautiful day in my memory for me and my band. A day we will never forget and we wanted to share that moment with a beautiful record for anyone who wants to listen.”

The album includes RAYE's outstanding and stirring cover of the James Brown classic “It's a Man's Man's Man's World” accompanied by a live performance video. Montreux Jazz's YouTube also features the tracks “Genesis” and “Mary Jane” (out September 16), and RAYE's full set will be released on her YouTube channel on October 1.

In March, RAYE made history at Britain's biggest night in music when she won an unprecedented six BRIT Awards – the most accolades for an artist in a single year and the first woman ever to win Songwriter of the Year – a groundbreaking feat that propelled the indie artist to superstardom. Since then, she has wowed live audiences at Coachella, Lollapalooza and Saturday Night Live, and catapulted My 21st Century Blues into the US iTunes Top 10. This year also saw RAYE open for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, collaborate on Beyoncé's COWBOY CARTER album (“RIIVERDANCE”), be named to TIME Magazine's “Next Generation Leaders” list, receive nominations for the 2024 BET and MTV Video Music Awards, and win an award at the upcoming SONA Warrior Awards.

ABOUT RAYE

British singer-songwriter RAYE has become a leading force in music, boasting eight top 20 singles in the UK, 5 billion Spotify streams worldwide and a distinguished history of writing songs for top GRAMMY Award winners such as Beyoncé, John Legend, Kylie Minogue and David Guetta, to name a few. Her 2023 independent debut album My 21st Century Blues peaked at No. 2 on the Official UK Albums Chart and featured the smash hit “Escapism.”, which not only achieved over a billion streams but also marked RAYE's first No. 1 in the UK and entry into the Billboard Hot 100, and achieved RIAA double platinum status in the US.

After a year of extensive touring around the world, including supporting tours with artists such as SZA, Kali Uchis and Lewis Capaldi, RAYE gave a career-defining performance at London's famous Royal Albert Hall. Accompanied by a full orchestra and a 30-person gospel choir, critics hailed RAYE as “the most talented artist since Adele and Amy Winehouse” (The Telegraph).

RAYE's latest Top 40 radio hit in the US, “Genesis.” is a three-act opus and a masterclass in revolutionizing music as we know it. Co-produced with multi-Grammy Award winner Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins (Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, SZA), the work draws parallels to the origins of her universe through the narrative. RAYE elevates her emotionally raw and vulnerable lyrics to a pitch-perfect delivery with triumphant strings and horns, sweet harmonies and an encouraging snare that is a divine battle cry. A confrontational acknowledgement of a chapter that is not yet closed, but with the firm intention of a new beginning, “Genesis.” draws inspiration from big band, jazz, hip hop, R&B, gospel and contemporary pop. Out of the darkness comes light and with this new chapter, a musical renaissance is on the horizon.

Tracklist of Live At Montreux Jazz Festival (digital and 12” vinyl)

The thrill is gone. (Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival)
It's worth it. (Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival)
Mary Jane. (Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival)
Ice Cream Man. (Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival)
Genesis. (Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival)***
It's a man's world (Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival)
Escapism. (Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival)

Photo credit: The Orchard

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