RAYE Shares Her Journey to Sobriety: Embracing a Healthier, Happier Self
RAYE on the cover of Elle.
Credit:
Willy Vanderperre
RAYE Discusses Alcohol Changes Ahead of New Album
RAYE is tackling her alcohol consumption as she prepares for the release of her upcoming second album, creating a stark contrast to her previous experiences. In an interview with Elle, she revealed that she now embraces alcohol with a healthier mindset.
The British pop star, featured on the cover of Elle’s February 2026 issue, disclosed that she primarily wrote her forthcoming record, which currently lacks a title or release date, while sober. This approach marks a significant departure from the creative process behind her debut album, My 21st Century Blues, released in 2023.
“A lot of My 21st Century Blues, I was up in the clouds, rolling a blunt. I like that I’ve come down to earth to write these lyrics. I prefer myself like this,” RAYE, whose full name is Rachel Keen, stated. “I’ve found discipline and abstinence in my life, and it’s a beautiful thing.” At 28, she noted that while she enjoys an occasional glass of wine, she is “no longer drinking to fix or bury or numb or escape.”
RAYE for ELLE.
Willy Vanderperre
Reflecting on her past, RAYE emphasized the challenges she faced, including the need to reconnect with her family. “A lot of damage had to be repaired from my old life, where I was entirely disconnected from my family,” she remarked. “You see how close I am with my family now — that’s my center point. But I was a world away from that. I was a very different person to who I am now, even though I may present the same or be able to put on the mask and play the part.”
The artist, known for her hit single “Escapism,” has candidly shared her struggles with substance abuse in the past. She described the toll that keeping her feelings bottled up took on her, stating, “When you keep things in… they eat away at you from the inside. And for me, sadly, substance abuse was entangled with numbing the trauma that I had experienced.” RAYE previously shared with the BBC in 2023 that her addiction became dangerously consuming.
Rediscovering her Christian faith has played a pivotal role in her recovery. “There’s a world in which if I didn’t find faith again, I might not even be here,” she said. “It’s honestly pulled me out of a really dark place.”
Raye for ELLE.
Willy Vanderperre
As a Grammy nominee, RAYE has also opened up about her trials with her former record label, revealing how she reached a breaking point in her career before choosing to release My 21st Century Blues independently. “For this album I really wanted to lift the lid on the smoke and mirrors that even I felt like I needed to uphold for so many years,” she noted. “To be honest, some of the stuff I’m discussing, some of my closest friends don’t even know — which is weird because I’m an open book.”
