There's something quite special about
Rae Morris. Born and raised in Blackpool as Rachelle Anne Morris, she signed to Atlantic Records at the tender age of nineteen, choosing them above offers from other labels due to their willingness to take things slow. After four years touring with the likes of Bombay Bicycle Club, Tom Odell and Lianne La Havas, as well as a collab with Clean Bandit, Rae finally released her debut. A melancholy, experimental album which evoked comparisons to Bat For Lashes, Enya and Ellie Goulding, ‘
Unguarded' charted her journey from unsigned teenager to seasoned songwriter.
The success of her debut had barely worn off before Rae was preparing for its successor. "I've been working on it for the last two years, pretty much since I finished touring the first record," she admits. This time around, the process was more relaxed. For Rae, removing all outside influence was the key to creating honest music. "I was just like, right, forget about everything, which is hard when you're surrounded by constant feedback from social media and friends, family, everything. It's hard to block all that out and make something that is one-hundred-per-cent pure, to avoid making changes based on external influences and just make things that felt right for my current world, and the things in it."
So, how does ‘Unguarded' compare to Rae's new release? "It's not all happy-clappy music, but it's definitely less restrained." It's an apt summary. ‘
Someone Out There' is the colourful antidote to the pastel tones of its predecessor. Much of the melancholy has been dropped in favour of lively electronic vibes and empowering anthems. Her comeback singles – the appropriately-named ‘
Reborn' and ‘
Do It' – premiered her new direction to world, showcasing a carefree and catchy sound quite unlike the introverted Rae we once knew. "I didn't know much about electronic music. I didn't listen to that much of it at that time, and I think my taste over the last couple of years has changed and developed. I've been to more gigs, and I've discovered a whole other genre that I love," she explains.
