Credit: RAYE / Alamy

Rachael Pimblett

Wed 21 January 2026 18:01, UK

Follow us on Google Discover

Singer-songwriter Raye has opened up about the emotional consequences of being consistently compared to Amy Winehouse.

The South London singer-songwriter has often been compared to late British icon Amy Winehouse for her powerhouse vocals and emotional mix of pop, R&B, and soul.

Speaking with ELLE magazine for her first-ever major US magazine cover story, Raye addressed this in the interview, focusing on when the comparative comments take on a darker edge: “What’s difficult for me is when people are so horrible, rude, nasty, and evil with their words,” she said.

Raye shared examples of comments she would receive online, such as, “‘You’ll never be her. You are an absolute failure. You disgust me trying to think that you could even be remotely like she was.’”

After re-living the harsh words sent her way, Raye continued, “And it’s like the funny thing to me about the way they’re speaking to me is, it’s that same evil.”

Still, Raye admitted that Winehouse would have had it worse in her day, adding, “I’m not saying I’ve experienced even a hundredth of what that girl was put through, but it comes from a similar place. Our beloved Amy would probably still be here today if she didn’t have to be subject to all this hate when she was alive.”

Raye’s unfinished upcoming album will interrogate the notion of their inevitable comparison: “It’s quite an intense thing to address so early on in this album, but I felt in my heart that I really wanted to,” Raye shared.

The three-time Grammy nominee recently announced a huge 2026 tour, titled This Tour May Contain New Music, which will allow her to refine the new music she has been working on.

The tour will run from January 22nd to May 12th. It will start in Poland and stop at key European cities, such as Berlin, Bologna, Oslo, Cologne, Zurich, and Paris. Raye will visit the UK for six dates in February and March, playing two nights at London’s iconic O2 Arena.

ADD AS A PREFERRED SOURCE ON GOOGLE

Never Miss A Beat

The Far Out Music Newsletter

All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.

I agree to be emailed

Subscribe