Rae says her new single is “discovering the most authentic version of myself that I can be.”
The “Ice Cream Man” singer has shared the seven-minute, “deeply personal” song “Genesis,” which he describes as a “prayer, a plea and a cry for help” during difficult times.
She said in a statement: “Nina Simone once said, 'It is an artist's duty to reflect the times.' These words mean everything to me and I believe the best way I can express this is through my art and music.”
“There's so much darkness and pain in the world we live in. I wanted to create something as deeply personal and raw as possible, about my own heart and the world around me.”
She added: “This song is a seven-minute piece that I've been crafting and examining for the last year and a half. I've experimented with different genres and sonic expressions, but underneath all the layers and lyrics there is an underlying message: 'Let there be light.'”
“This is a prayer, a plea, a cry for help. I sincerely hope that this song can give a little hope to those who need it most, just as it has given me hope.”
“They say your twenties are the best years of your life,” she sings.
But I seem to spend my time watching the sunset.
Because I'm busy watching other people on my phone.
How I Compare and Obsess
It's just me, my phone and this wall.”
The self-deprecating lyrics include: “And I've been sober for months
But I feel demons waiting for my downfall.
Because I'm so ugly and irrelevant.”
“Genesis” marks Ray's first release since his breakthrough album, “My 21st Century Blues.”