Raye wiped away tears after performing Ice Cream Man on the Open’er Competition as a result of it’s “the toughest track [she’s] ever written”.
Raye acting at Open’er Competition / Credit score: Didkivskyi
The 27-year-old singer mirrored on the therapeutic energy of music as she carried out a rendition of the track, which particulars the impression of being sexually assaulted, one thing which Raye has skilled in her life.
Introducing the monitor as she carried out on the Orange Important Stage on the music occasion in Poland on Wednesday evening (02.07.25), she mentioned: “This subsequent track that I want to sing for you is the saddest track that I’ve ever written, the toughest track I’ve ever written.
“However on the identical time, this track is medication for me. Music is medication.
“I began scripting this track after I was 17 years previous.
“I have been via some actually gut-wrenching stuff and the topic of this track is sexual assault and rape and sexual violence, which I do know are actually disgusting phrases and actually intense and I am sorry for taking it there.”
Raye hopes the monitor affords consolation to others who’ve endured the identical experiences as she has.
She continued: “However then after I learn the statistic that one in 4 ladies and men might be affected by this of their lifetime, it is simply heart-breaking.
“So I do know after I sing this track, as arduous, as it’s to sing and as horrible, it’s to sing. Generally I do know I am not alone in understanding, simply what a track like this may be for these of us, who, who want it.”
After a strong efficiency of Ice Cream Man, Raye wiped away tears with a towel earlier than persevering with together with her set.
The British singer-songwriter additionally handled the viewers in Gdynia to a brand new monitor known as I Know You are Hurting, an emotional balled she admitted usually left her “sobbing in the bathroom”.
She mentioned: “It is a track which means quite a bit to me. It is a new track, it is an unreleased track and this track has purely been my medication.
“I am not gonna lie, you realize I might be flying on a regular basis. I will be taking flights like this track has me like going to the lavatory in the bathroom and on the aircraft and similar to sobbing. This this track is so essential to me and um, I am actually excited to sing it for you proper now.”
The track addresses the distinction between the “highlights reel” folks present on-line and the emotional actuality of their lives.
She added: “The topic of this track how I feel in life, you realize, we put up this masks, or we publish on our Instagrams performing like life is wonderful and every thing’s nice. And we present the highlights reel, you realize, and I feel that is not the truth of life and I feel a variety of us are hurting.
“I am simply excited to see this track to you. And if there’s anybody on the market on this crowd right this moment, we have come to really feel some form of musical medication. Possibly, that is all of us, you realize? Then this one is certainly for you.”
Different artists who carried out on the primary day of Open’er pageant included Jorja Smith, Gracie Abrams and headliners Large Assault.
