Irene Rae is a singer and songwriter from Mission, Canada, whose music draws on personal reflection and emotional storytelling. Her work focuses on the effects of human behaviour and relationships, with songs that move between delicate melody and darker, more bitter undertones.

Background

Rae is born in 1985 and comes from Mission, Canada. She has musical training that includes musical theatre, and she sings as part of her wider performance background. She also plays alto saxophone, which she begins at the age of 12.

Musical development

She starts teaching herself guitar at 22, learning by ear from CDs and working out the chords to accompany her voice. She describes her approach as intuitive rather than written, and says she does not rely on chord charts or notebooks, preferring to keep the structure of the music instinctive.

Style and influences

Her voice is a central feature of her music, and it is the combination of her vocal range and power that brings her attention from local BBC and independent radio stations in the UK. The music is presented as reflective and emotional, with lyrics shaped by lived experience. Her listed genres include chillwave, dance, dance-pop, disco, electropop and folk.

Live performance

Rae supports a number of established acts, including Midge Ure, Hazel O’Connor, The Levellers, Rod Clements, Jon Power and Sonja Kristina. She also tours widely in the UK and performs for new audiences, building a following in both the UK and the USA. Her live performances are described as strongly connected to feeling and expression, with an emphasis on emotional delivery.

Label

She is associated with Jepsen Music Publishing.