At the end of the day… Raye
I live with my little sisters, who are 17 and 19, in south London. But at the moment, I also live with my engineer, Jenna, who has come over from LA. I’m making a lot of music and we work together from the house quite a bit. Usually around this time of year, I’d be in LA and miss the UK winter because I suffer from SAD [seasonal affective disorder]. When the sun’s out, I’m so happy, so I usually chase the sun.
Luckily, I’ve been able to carry on working, but I have to take three Covid tests before I can even enter a studio. I write a lot of music for other people. I’ve done some bits with Annemarie and I’ve worked with Mabel. I worked with Lewis Capaldi yesterday, which is why I’m so flipping tired!
I miss my exercise classes in a room of people being shouted at, with disco lights and punching bags. Exercise is one thing I haven’t done during lockdown. I used to go to Kobox, they have one in Chelsea and one in Marylebone and it’s so brilliant. It’s really good for your mental health. I could get a punch bag at home, but it’s just not the same.
I suck at cooking, so I order in a lot. Sushi or Thai. I do buy lots of fruit too. But I think I’m going to start a meal plan where I just get healthy meals delivered to my door, because in lockdown I don’t feel like there’s much motivation to look after yourself.
I’m obsessed with The Queen’s Gambit. I’ve watched it three times! It’s such a girl power series. There was a part of lockdown last year where I discovered puzzles; I did a 1,000-piece puzzle and it completely blew my mind – it’s like a form of meditation. I’ve never listened to podcasts to try and switch off, but I love this app called Radiooooo. Basically, you listen to music across the world through the eras – 1950s Paris is stunning! I have two phones now: I have a life phone and a social media phone. Because honestly, it’s not good for me to be on social media so much.
Skincare is a big part of self-care for me. I use micellar water to clean off my eye make-up because I wear a lot of eyeliner. Then I go in the shower and use a Kiehl’s face wash, followed by a little bit of Pixi cleansing mud. Then I’ll get out of the shower and use the Pixi toner and a 111 Skin anti-blemish serum, then it’s Kiehl’s night oil and some vitamin E oil. It’s a long routine; I love it though.
When the sun goes down, I get so many ideas. Last night, I went to sleep at
5am. I love to sleep, but I just suck at it: it’s my worst skill. I really care about my art and I give it lots of time and attention and focus. It’s the priority of my life.
I sleep in a big
T-shirt or I wear a nice silk twopiece, or Calvin
Klein pyjama trousers
(they’re very, very comfortable). I have to sleep with three pillows – one under my neck, one that I hug to my legs and one that goes on the other side. This is how I’ve learned to be a single woman! I feel like I’m hugging someone as I fall asleep.
‘Bed’, Raye’s single with Joel Corry and David Guetta, and mini-album ‘Euphoric Sad Songs’ are both out now