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Rae Morris

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Rae Morris
Rae Morris performing at the Night and Day Cafe, Manchester, on 1 March 2012.
Rae Morris performing at the Night and Day Cafe, Manchester, on 1 March 2012.
Background information
Birth nameRachel Anne Morris
Also known asRae Morris
Born (1992-09-02) 2 September 1992 (age 32)
Blackpool, Lancashire, England
GenresArt pop
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano
Years active2011–present
Labels
Websiteraemorris.co.uk

Rachel Anne "Rae" Morris (born 2 September 1992) is an English singer and songwriter.[1] She released her debut album, Unguarded, in 2015. Her second album, Someone Out There, was released in January 2018. Her third album, Rachel@Fairyland, was released in July 2022.

Early life

[edit]

Morris was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, England,[2] and started playing the piano when she was four years old.[3][4] She attended St. George's School and then studied A-levels in music and drama at Cardinal Newman College in Preston, Lancashire.[5][6] She worked as a waitress at the grounds of Blackpool F.C.[1]

Career

[edit]

2011: Early live appearances

[edit]
Morris at Kro Bar, Manchester, in January 2011.

Morris gigged in Blackpool and around the North-West England during her college studies. She attracted the attention of BBC Radio Lancashire presenter Sean McGinty, who put her forward to perform on the BBC Introducing stage at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August 2011.[1][7][8][9] She was signed to Universal Music Publishing Group the same month and to Atlantic Records in September 2011.[6] Morris had received attention from other labels but chose Atlantic because they "would take it slow" and "didn't blow any smoke up my arse".[10]

During this period she was mentored by fellow Blackpool singer-songwriter Karima Francis, who helped develop her songwriting skills.[11] She was also in a two-year relationship with Francis, which she said inspired the songs on her debut album "about going through that, exploring that sexuality and those feelings for the first time. Then coming out the other side of that as well, so that's the album".[10]

2012–2014: EP releases

[edit]

Morris released her debut single in March 2012, "Don't Go", following its use in the final episode of the sixth series of the television drama series Skins.[12] She recorded an EP, For You, which she sold exclusively at her live performances in mid 2012, and in November released a second EP, Grow.[4][13] Another EP, From Above, followed in 2013.[14] Alongside her solo gigs during 2012 and 2013, Morris was a support act for artists including Bombay Bicycle Club, Lianne La Havas, Noah and the Whale, and Tom Odell.[15][16] She contributed guest vocals to three tracks on Bombay Bicycle Club's 2014 album So Long, See You Tomorrow, including the single "Luna".[11] Also in 2014, Morris co-wrote and featured on the Clean Bandit song "Up Again" (from their debut album New Eyes). Rae Morris was recently the MarkMeets featured artist of the month December 2014 [17] Rae also opened for George Ezra on his European tour, as well as embarking on her own headlining UK tour.[18]

2014–2015: Unguarded

[edit]
Main article: Unguarded (Rae Morris album)

During 2014, Morris released the singles "Do You Even Know?", "Cold" (featuring Fryars), and "Closer"—each with accompanying EPs—to promote her debut album, Unguarded, which she recorded primarily in Los Angeles with producer Ariel Rechtshaid.[19] Morris was longlisted in the BBC Sound of 2015 poll, and Unguarded was released in January 2015 alongside the single "Under the Shadows", with another headlining tour following in February.[20][21][22] Unguarded, which also features production from Jim Eliot and Fryars, debuted at number nine on the UK Albums Chart.[23]

Later in 2015, Morris appeared in a television advertisement for fashion retailer Boohoo that featured the album's fifth single, "Love Again". She featured on Sivu's single "The Nile" and performed at festivals including Bestival, Glastonbury, Lytham Festival, T in the Park, and Truck Festival.[24][25] The sixth single from Unguarded, "Don't Go", was released in association with breast cancer awareness charity Coppafeel!.[26]

2018–2019: Someone Out There

[edit]

Morris began work on the follow-up to Unguarded in late 2015. Touring to promote the album began in March 2017 and included a concert at Concorde 2 in Brighton supported by PAULi and Saskia Maxwell.[27] In September a wider tour included Norwich, Nottingham, Salisbury Arts Centre, Leeds and Islington in London.[28]

Working prominently with Fryars, Morris opted for a more electronic-oriented sound for her second album. Between July 2017 and October 2018, Morris released seven singles to promote the album - "Reborn",[29] "Do It",[30] "Atletico (The Only One)",[31] "Push Me to My Limit",[32] "Lower the Tone",[33] "Someone Out There" and "Dancing With Character"[34] - as well as various remixes. The album, titled Someone Out There, was released on 2 February 2018.[35]

"For You" was featured in the first series of A Discovery of Witches, which was broadcast on Sky One in 2017. In July 2018, the song "Reborn" from Someone Out There was featured in the BBC's closing montage from the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

On 19 November 2018, Spice Girl Melanie C released "High Heels" featuring Sink the Pink, which was co-written with Morris.

On 4 June 2021, Morris released "Fish n Chips", a collaboration with TikTok star, grime artist, and fellow Blackpool native Soph Aspin.

2022: Rachel@Fairyland

[edit]

Work began on Morris' third album Rachel@Fairyland in October 2018, as she teased in an interview that she was "going away for a few months to write the next era."[36] Morris released the first single from the album, "No Woman Is an Island", on 25 February 2022.[37] She released three further singles for the album between April and July - "Running Shoes",[38] "Go Dancing" (featuring Fryars),[39] and "A Table for Two".[40]

In July 2022, her third album Rachel@Fairyland was released. It sold 1,098 copies in its first week to debut at number 150 in the UK Albums Chart, 130 places lower than her second album, Someone Out There, charted in 2018.[41]

Personal life

[edit]

Morris is married to frequent collaborator Fryars.[42][43] Her brother William is married to Lucy Rose.[44] On 26 May 2021, Morris announced via her Instagram that she was pregnant with her and Fryars' first child; their daughter, Marla, was born in June 2021.[45] Their son Larry was born in April 2024.[46]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[47]
Unguarded
  • Released: 26 January 2015
  • Label: Atlantic, Warner
  • Format: CD, digital download
 9
Someone Out There
  • Released: 2 February 2018[48]
  • Label: Atlantic, Warner
  • Format: CD, digital download
 20
Rachel@Fairyland
  • Released: 8 July 2022[49]
  • Label: RCA
  • Format: CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming
 150[41]
Rachel@Pianoland
  • Released: 25 November 2022[50]
  • Label: Sony Music Entertainment
  • Format: CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming
 —

Extended plays

[edit]
Title Details
For You
  • Released: 2012
  • Label: Atlantic, Warner
  • Format: CD
Grow
  • Released: 2012
  • Label: Atlantic, Warner
  • Format: CD, Digital download
From Above
  • Released: 19 April 2013[51]
  • Label: Atlantic, Warner
  • Format: Digital download
Do You Even Know?
  • Released: 2014
  • Label: Atlantic, Warner
  • Format: Digital download
Cold
  • Released: 2014
  • Label: Atlantic, Warner
  • Format: Digital download
Closer
  • Released: 17 October 2014[52]
  • Label: Atlantic, Warner
  • Format: Digital download
Someone Out There, at the Piano
  • Released: November 2019
  • Label: self-released
  • Format: Vinyl (Limited Edition)

Singles

[edit]
Year Title Peak chart positions Album
UK
[47]
2012 "Don't Go"[53] — Unguarded
"Grow"[54] —
2013 "From Above"[51] — From Above EP
2014 "Do You Even Know?"[55] — Unguarded
"Cold" (featuring Fryars)[56] —
"Closer"[52] —
2015 "Under the Shadows"[57] 53
"Love Again"[58] 83
2017 "Reborn"[59] — Someone Out There
"Do It" —
"Atletico (The Only One)" —
2018 "Push Me to My Limit" —
"Lower the Tone" —
"Someone Out There"[60] —
"Dancing with Character" —
2021 "Fish n Chips" (featuring Soph Aspin) — Non-album single
2022 "No Woman Is an Island" — Rachel@Fairyland
"Running Shoes" —
"Go Dancing" (featuring Fryars) —
"A Table for Two" —
"Birdsong on the Breeze" — Rachel@Pianoland
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released.

Music videos

[edit]
Title Year Director
"Don't Go" (live version) 2012 The Blind Club[61]
"Grow" Bouha Kazmi[62]
"Way Back When" 2013 The Blind Club[63]
"From Above" James Slater[64]
"Wait a While" The Blind Club[65]
"Skin" 2014 Nadia Marquard Otzen[66][67][68]
"Do You Even Know?"
"Cold" (featuring Fryars)
"Closer" Zac Ella[69]
"Under the Shadows" 2015 Alex Southam[70]
"Love Again" Charlie Robins[71]
"Don't Go" Louis Bhose[26]
"Reborn" 2017 Noel Paul[72][73][74][75][76]
"Do It"
"Atletico (The Only One)"
"Someone Out There" 2018
"Dancing with Character"
"Fish n Chips" (featuring Soph Aspin) 2021 Un­known
"No Woman Is an Island" 2022 Noel Paul
"Go Dancing" (featuring Fryars) Un­known

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Savage, Mark (29 January 2015). "Rae Morris: The pop star who wanted to be a waitress". BBC News: Entertainment & Arts.
  2. ^ "Blackpool singer-songwriter Rae Morris is tipped for the top". Lancashire Life. 19 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Rae Morris on Instagram: "22"". Instagram.com. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Interview – Introducing… Rae Morris". For Folk's Sake. 6 June 2012.
  5. ^ "Rae keeping her feet on the ground". blackpoolgazette.co.uk.
  6. ^ a b "School run scribe on path to glory". lep.co.uk.
  7. ^ "Rae Morris". Cardinal Newman College.
  8. ^ "ITB Artist Bio". International Talent Booking. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  9. ^ "Reading+Leeds Artist Page". BBC. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  10. ^ a b "Musician Rae Morris interview: 'I don't label my sexuality 'cause I don't actually know myself'". The Independent.
  11. ^ a b George O'Brien (28 May 2014). "Introducing: Rae Morris [Interview] – The Line Of Best Fit". The Line of Best Fit.
  12. ^ "Universal Music Publishing Group – UK". umusicpub.co.uk.
  13. ^ "Rae Morris reveals new EP & video for 'Grow'". Clean Slate Music. Archived from the original on 8 January 2015.
  14. ^ "Interview // Rae Morris". goldflakepaint.co.uk. 15 April 2013.
  15. ^ "OTW #495: Rae Morris". Clash Magazine. 16 April 2013.
  16. ^ "Rae Morris – Interview – Louder Than War". Louder Than War. 28 February 2013.
  17. ^ "Rae Morris Feature: 'She's a refreshinging artist who we love" – Mark Boardman'". MarkMeets Entertainment. December 2014.
  18. ^ Jenny Simpson (23 September 2014). "'I still struggle with confidence': An interview with Rae Morris (11/09/14)". The Edge.
  19. ^ "Rae Morris in the studio interview: "This is me, this is who I am" – DIY". DIY. 17 September 2014.
  20. ^ "BBC – BBC Music Sound Of, 2015 – Rae Morris". BBC.
  21. ^ "Rae Morris debuts new single 'Under The Shadows'". DIY. 19 November 2014.
  22. ^ "Singer Rae will be the one to watch in 2015". blackpoolgazette.co.uk.
  23. ^ "Meghan Trainor's Title debuts at top of Official Albums Chart". officialcharts.com.
  24. ^ "Singing star Rae's the face of clothing range". blackpoolgazette.co.uk.
  25. ^ "Sivu shares video for 'The Nile' featuring Rae Morris". DIY. May 2015.
  26. ^ a b Rebecca Cope (2 September 2015). "Rae Morris releases charity single for CoppaFeel". Harper's BAZAAR.
  27. ^ "Saskia maxwell". Muzikspeaks.com. 27 March 2018.
  28. ^ "Rae Morris has announced a new UK tour". Diymag.com. August 2017.
  29. ^ "Watch: Rae Morris Is 'Reborn'". clashmusic.com. June 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  30. ^ "RAE MORRIS IS A RISK-TAKER IN THE VIDEO FOR 'DO IT'". diymag.com. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  31. ^ "Rae Morris has a wild time in New Orleans in her "Atletico" video". Thefader.com. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  32. ^ "Rae Morris offers up epic new track "Push Me To My Limit"". Thelineofbestfit.com. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  33. ^ "Rae Morris' latest track "Lower The Tone" scales euphoric heights". Thelineofbestfit.com. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  34. ^ "Rae Morris hits the ballroom in 'Dancing With Character' video". Thelineofbestfit.com. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  35. ^ "Rae Morris announces second album Someone Out There". Thelineofbestfit.com. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  36. ^ "RAE MORRIS HITS THE BALLROOM IN 'DANCING WITH CHARACTER' VIDEO". Diymag.com. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  37. ^ Ackroyd, Stephen (25 February 2022). "Rae Morris has returned with a first new single since 2018, 'No Woman Is An Island'". Dork Magazine. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  38. ^ "Rae Morris Drops Her Dreamlike Track, "Running Shoes"". Wonderland. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  39. ^ Cabot, Madeleine (6 May 2022). "Rae Morris heads to Blackpool's Tower Ballroom for her new 'Go Dancing' video". Dork. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  40. ^ Stickler, Jon. "Rae Morris Posts New Track A Table For Two Ahead Of 'Rachel@Fairyland' Release - Stereoboard". Stereoboard.com. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  41. ^ a b "Charts analysis: Harry Styles spends fifth week at No.1 with Harry's House | Analysis". Musicweek.com.
  42. ^ David Smyth (2 February 2018). "Rae Morris talks love stories and latex catsuits". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  43. ^ "Morris, dancing: Rae Morris". diymag.com. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  44. ^ Craig McLean (30 January 2015). "Musician Rae Morris interview: 'I don't label my sexuality 'cause I don't actually know myself'". The Independent. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  45. ^ "Rae Morris (@rae_morris)". 14 June 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  46. ^ "Rae Morris (@rae_morris)". 22 April 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  47. ^ a b Peak positions in the United Kingdom:
  48. ^ "Rae Morris announces new album Someone Out There". DIY. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  49. ^ "Rachel@Fairyland by Rae Morris". Apple Music. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  50. ^ "Rachel@Pianoland by Rae Morris". Apple Music. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  51. ^ a b "From Above EP by Rae Morris". iTunes. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  52. ^ a b "Closer – EP by Rae Morris". iTunes. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  53. ^ "Don't Go by Rae Morris". Amazon. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  54. ^ "Grow – Single by Rae Morris". iTunes. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  55. ^ "Do You Even Know? by Rae Morris". Amazon. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  56. ^ "Cold (feat. Fryars) by Rae Morris". Amazon. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  57. ^ "Under the Shadows Remixes – EP by Rae Morris". iTunes. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  58. ^ "Love Again (Remixes) – EP by Rae Morris". iTunes. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  59. ^ "Reborn – Single by Rae Morris". iTunes. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  60. ^ "BBC Radio 1 Playlist". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  61. ^ "Rae Morris – 'Don't Go'". Vimeo. 8 November 2013.
  62. ^ "RAE MORRIS – Grow". Vimeo. 23 September 2013.
  63. ^ "Rae Morris – Way Back When". Vimeo. 15 January 2013.
  64. ^ "Rae Morris – From Above ( Behind the Scenes )". Vimeo.
  65. ^ "Rae Morris – Wait A While – The Blind Club". Theblindclub.com.
  66. ^ "Rae Morris 'Skin' by Nadia". Promo News.
  67. ^ "Rae Morris 'Do You Even Know' by Nadia". Promo News.
  68. ^ "Rae Morris ft Fryars 'Cold' by Nadia". Promo News.
  69. ^ "Rae Morris 'Closer' by Zac Ella". Promo News.
  70. ^ "Rae Morris 'Under The Shadows' by Alex Southam". Promo News.
  71. ^ "Rae Morris 'Love Again' by Charlie Robins". Promo News.
  72. ^ "Rae Morris 'Reborn' by Noel Paul". Promo News.
  73. ^ "Rae Morris 'Do It' by Noel Paul". Promo News.
  74. ^ "Rae Morris has a wild time in New Orleans in her "Atletico" video". Fader.
  75. ^ "VIDEO: Watch resort star Rae Morris's video for Someone Out There - filmed in Blackpool". The Gazette. 22 March 2018.
  76. ^ "Rae Morris hits the ballroom in 'Dancing With Character' video". DIY Magazine. 18 October 2018.
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