Rae Morris

Rae Morris

Rae Morris is a singer-songwriter from Blackpool, in the United Kingdom. Her music is described as alternative pop, pop and singer-songwriter work, and her songs often centre on new experiences, love and uncertainty. She learns piano at an early age and builds a career around her voice and writing.

Career

While studying at college, Morris performs in Blackpool and across North West England. She draws attention from BBC Radio Lancashire presenter Sean McGinty, who puts her forward for the BBC Introducing stage at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August 2011. In the same month she signs to Universal Music Publishing Group, then signs to Atlantic Records in September 2011.

During this period, she is mentored by Blackpool singer-songwriter Karima Francis, who helps her develop as a writer. Morris is also in a two-year relationship with Francis, which she says informs the material on her debut album. She is married to her collaborator Fryars.

Early releases

Morris releases her debut single, “Don’t Go”, in March 2012 after it is used in the final episode of the sixth series of Skins. She then issues the EP For You, sold only at live shows in mid-2012, followed by the EP Grow in November 2012. Another EP, From Above, follows in 2013.

Alongside her solo appearances in 2012 and 2013, she supports Bombay Bicycle Club, Lianne La Havas, Noah and the Whale, and Tom Odell.

Collaborations and debut album

Morris contributes guest vocals to three tracks on Bombay Bicycle Club’s 2014 album So Long, See You Tomorrow, including the single “Luna”. In the same year she co-writes and appears on Clean Bandit’s “Up Again”, from their debut album New Eyes. She also features on Sivu’s single “The Nile”.

Her debut album, Unguarded, is recorded mainly in Los Angeles with producer Ariel Rechtshaid. It also includes production from Jim Eliot and Fryars. In 2014 she releases the singles “Do You Even Know?”, “Cold” featuring Fryars, and “Closer”, each with accompanying EPs, before the album appears in January 2015 with the single “Under the Shadows”. Unguarded reaches number nine on the UK Albums Chart.

Later work

Morris is longlisted in the BBC Sound of 2015 poll. She appears in a Boohoo television advertisement in 2015, which features the album’s fifth single, “Love Again”. The sixth single from Unguarded, “Don’t Go”, is later released in association with breast cancer awareness charity Coppafeel!.

She performs at festivals including Bestival, Glastonbury, Lytham Festival, T in the Park and Truck Festival, and also opens for George Ezra on his European tour while undertaking her own UK headline tour.

Second album

Morris begins work on a follow-up to Unguarded in late 2015 and works prominently with Fryars on a more electronic sound. Between July 2017 and October 2018 she releases seven singles to promote the album: “Reborn”, “Do It”, “Atletico (The Only One)”, “Push Me to My Limit”, “Lower the Tone”, “Someone Out There” and “Dancing With Character”. The album, Someone Out There, is released in 2018. “Reborn” is later used in the BBC’s closing montage from the 2018 FIFA World Cup.