British singer RAYE has revealed why she and so many other British artists shed their accents the instant they start singing, telling NBC's "Today Show" that it comes down to what performers grow up hearing rather than any conscious effort to sound American.
RAYE, who grew up in Tooting, south London, built her career on songs including "Escapism.", "Worth It." and "WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!". She broke through with her debut album "My 21st Century Blues" and set a record at the 2024 Brit Awards by winning six trophies in a single night.
During the interview, the host asked how it was that so many British singers, RAYE included, lost every trace of their accent the moment they began to sing. RAYE agreed straight away, saying that singing in one's own accent was actually a fairly brave choice for any artist to make.
To show what she meant, RAYE performed a quick demonstration live on air. She said the phrase "I can't do this" first in a pronounced, almost upper class British accent, then repeated the same words a second later in a neutral American accent. The host was visibly stunned by the shift, telling RAYE it was incredible how she had gone from one extreme to the other in the space of a second.
Why the American Accent Rules Pop Music
The conversation then moved to why the traditional American accent has become the default sound of the music industry. The host noted that the same accent that dominates pop singing is often seen as unappealing in everyday speech, and asked RAYE why it still wins out on record.
RAYE, known for her dry sense of humor, said she found the question hilarious. She said the habit simply comes down to what a person is raised on and what they are used to hearing.
She explained that the pattern is set in childhood. When a child grows up hearing that this is how singing is done, they end up adopting an American accent themselves without thinking about it, she said, adding that everyone in the industry does the same thing.
No Songs Until She's in Love
RAYE has also made a firm decision about the direction of her third studio album: she will not write a single song for it until she falls in love. The singer, behind hits such as "WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!", has ruled out any more songs about heartbreak following the release of her album "THIS ALBUM MAY CONTAIN HOPE."
She announced the plan during a private concert at the Blue Note Jazz Club, a long running jazz venue in New York City, staged as part of a live Billboard event. Billboard is a major American music industry publication best known for its charts. RAYE revealed that her next record will be titled "And Then She Falls in Love."
She admitted that she has not written a single track for the album yet and described herself as on a voluntary creative strike. As a form of protest, she said, she will not write a single song for the record until that moment finds her.
RAYE wants the follow up to "My 21st Century Blues" to explore the more beautiful side of love and leave listeners feeling optimistic, rather than dwelling on rejection as much of her past work has done. She confirmed that her days of writing about heartbreak are behind her for now.
Laughing, she summed up her current approach to romance by telling fans to simply not date rappers, adding that was all she would say on the subject, and admitting that she had been naive.
