“You know, life isn’t always easy, it’s not always simple, and THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE. is an album where I’m trying to make music to kind of help us through some of the harder times in life,” RAYE tells Apple Music of her second full-length. “It’s 17 songs long and kind of split into seasons.” On this grandiose and elegant outpouring, the British singer-songwriter triumphantly blisters through lessons on love (the exuberant “Beware.. The South London Lover Boy.”), friendship (the frenetic “Click Clack Symphony.,” featuring Hans Zimmer), perseverance (the powerful “I Know You’re Hurting.”), and, well, hope (the serene and jaunty “Happier Times Ahead.”). Blending old-school style with modern flair, RAYE effortlessly molds together genres across the record with chameleonic vocals that range from the electronically infused (“Life Boat.”) to jazzy sultriness (“I Hate the Way I Look Today.”) and operatic soul (“Nightingale Lane.”). In addition to the Oscar-winning Zimmer, Al Green joins RAYE for “Goodbye Henry.” She even makes it a family affair, including her grandfather on “Fields.” and her sisters Absolutely and Amma—up and coming artists in their own right—on “Joy.” And of course, the brassy, omnipresent single “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”—released in 2025—packs a perfect punch of fun and incredulity. Read on as RAYE breaks down a few key tracks in her own words. “Click Clack Symphony.” (feat. Hans Zimmer) “This is my text to Hans: ‘Hi. This is a very rough demo of the song I think I want to make on my album. I was wondering if you wanted to work with me on it? No worries if you don’t feel a connection to it.’ And then we just went back and forth, and then one orchestra and a lot of hours later, we created a song together. It’s so long, which I love, and it’s so unapologetically cinematic.” “Goodbye Henry.” (feat. Al Green) “I cannot believe that I can actually say that he’s a featuring artist on my sophomore album. I just don’t know how this even happened. This is extremely wild to me, and mind-blowing. I just want to talk for a moment about his vocals, the songs he made, him being somebody who’s created timeless music, something I can only hope to achieve, and I’m so honored to have a song alongside him.” “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! “This song is about the pursuit of looking for a husband. Yes. And I know it’s hard out here. The bar has hit an all-time low in this dating scene now. Let’s be real, let’s be realistic. But there is hope, and we must hold on to hope.” “Joy.” (feat. Absolutely & Amma) “I’m such a proud big sister. Both of my sisters are opening for me on tour, and also we have a song together on my album. It’s a song called ‘Joy.,’ which we’ve been singing on tour, and it’s so special. I love my sisters so much.”