British singer Rachel Keen, known professionally as Raye, has opened up about her struggle with addiction and trauma amid a challenging period in her career. The 28-year-old, who has garnered significant acclaim in recent years—including six Brit Awards in 2024 and a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize—detailed her battle with substance abuse following a series of personal and professional setbacks.

Raye described 2019 as a particularly difficult year when she found herself battling drug misuse, isolation from her family, and emotional distress. Raised in South London by her mother, Sarah, a mental health worker, and her father, Paul, a musical director, Raye has three siblings, including singer-songwriter Lauren, known as Amma. During this period, she was living and working in Los Angeles, where she struggled with disappointment after disagreements with her record label, Polydor Records, over her musical direction and the refusal to release her debut album.

In an extended interview broadcast on US radio, Raye said she was overwhelmed by a "large collection of traumas" that contributed to her downward spiral, including the impact of being sexually assaulted. She admitted to turning to drugs as a way to numb the pain, stating that at her lowest point she was “in the deep end” of substance abuse.

Raye credited a message from her grandmother—a Bible verse encouraging sobriety—with prompting her to seek support from her family and begin her recovery journey. “I was very good at hiding what I was going through," she said. “That Bible verse kicked me in the teeth.” Her sister Amma corroborated the severity of the situation, noting that she often had to check that Raye was safe, recalling the experience as “pretty traumatic” and expressing genuine concern over her sibling’s wellbeing at that time.

After parting ways with Polydor, Raye signed with Sony and found a therapeutic outlet through her music, using songwriting and performing to process her experiences. Her 2023 single “Ice Cream Man” reflects her journey from trauma to recovery. “If I go through something tough, I go into the studio and make something beautiful out of that,” she explained.

Now positioned for further success, with speculation she may perform the theme for the next James Bond film, Raye said she feels empowered by owning her story and conveying it through music. “I’m very grateful for the fact that I get to express myself through music, so viscerally, in the way that I needed to,” she stated. Performing songs born from difficult experiences has allowed her to connect with others facing similar struggles, highlighting the shared nature of trauma and resilience.

Though her path has been fraught with hardship, Raye’s candid reflections reveal a commitment to confronting challenges head-on and reclaiming control over her life and career.