MC's Music Lounge: RAYE's new album, This Music May Contain Hope, is nothing short of a masterpiece

The newest album from RAYE is nothing short of a masterpiece from start to finish. The album is broken up with interludes that help further the concept of the record. There are features from her sister, grandfather, Hans Zimmer, and the legendary Al Green. There are a healthy amount of pop influences, some EDM, a little bit of jazz and a sh-t ton of soul. RAYE is one of the most talented musicians to break out in recent years, and this album is another confirmation that it was only a matter of time before the world caught up to her; and she’s doing all of this while still maintaining her identity as an independent artist after numerous setbacks with her previous record labels. She holds the keys to the castle, and she’s pushing her artistry to its full potential. RAYE’s new album This Music May Contain Hope is providing exactly what it “may” be promising… hope. Hope for the future of music and hope that true talent always prevails through all the corporate BS that tends to plague creative industries.

When many artists are playing it safe to secure a viral smash, RAYE is doing the complete opposite by taking risk after risk with every single song on the project. Sure it’s being marketed as a “pop” album but just like RAYE herself, there are many more layers to the music. One of the tracks on the album “Winter Woman” even contains a sample of a 300-year old violin composition from Vivaldi. She’s long been inspired by classical music, even performing an operatic vocal over this very song during one of her recent sold out concerts, undoubtedly teasing the new track. The album is split up into four parts, with each part dedicated to a season (more Vivaldi and “The Four Seasons”) and the emotional roller coaster that she went through in each period; tackling everything from self-love, relationships, and overcoming hardships. All of this creative risk however comes without the push of a major label behind her but RAYE has been working to achieve this kind of creative freedom for years now, fronting the money for most of her recording costs earned from her stints writing hit songs for artists like JADE, Charli XCX, and Beyoncé.

RAYE delivers a body of work that demands to be sat with, unpacked and experienced in full. This Music May Contain Hope is vulnerable and refreshingly bold, the kind of album that reminds you why you fell in love with music in the first place. The most impressive part is that while the album runs at a length of 73 minutes, not a single track is filler. Every single song has the clear artistic direction and emotion that RAYE conveys through her vocals, making the three year wait since her debut album well worth the time spent in the studio.

Next week, we have some new albums from Thundercat and Earl Sweatshirt. Thundercat’s newest release is expected to include features from Tame Impala, A$AP Rocky and Willow among others so there should be at least a few quality hits on there. This week is diva heavy, my dream. We have new music from RAYE, Robyn, Slayyyter, Mariah Carey and Jungle. Plus, a viral pick that brings an underappreciated early 2000s hip-hop banger into the spotlight, while also bringing some always appreciated eye candy to our feeds.

Listen on…

MC’s PICKS OF THE WEEK

“I Know You’re Hurting.” By RAYE

It was next to impossible to only choose one track from this album to feature this week. I highly recommend giving this entire album a listen from start to finish in the correct order as it unfolds like a film. Still, as it is with any project, there are some gems that are absolutely non-negotiables and “I Know You’re Hurting.” is one of them. RAYE first teased this song during a few live performances last fall, and it was clear that this was going to be the heart of the record. The song is a peace offering for all of us who aren’t the kindest to ourselves especially in moments of deep depression. It’s a peace offering to our minds and a sign that we are not alone in the hardships that we carry with us on the daily. The outro of the song is particularly touching when she says “If you’re listening to this, I need you to hear me now. Don’t give up on your life, stay with me now”, I felt a tear falling down my face. Of course, the fact that this comes after 5 and a half minutes of her singing her face off adds to the drama of it all. I can speak from experience when I say that music has been my own saving grace and my best friend through every situation, and it acts as such for many of us – likely for many of you reading this as well. It’s clear that RAYE knows her purpose as an artist is to touch as many souls as she can with her gift, and this song is a perfect example of her doing just that. Her album may be titled This Music May Contain Hope, but I’m calling it from now that the album will also contain some Grammys.

“Sucker for Love” by Robyn

The girls are really giving us so much this week and it continues with Robyn’s first full-length studio album in eight years. I’ve been following the rollout for her new music since the lead single “Dopamine” dropped last October, and every song has been an immediate Robyn classic. She’s got that signature sound where you just know it’s her singing it. This album takes all those elements that her fans have grown to love over the years and applies it to her real-life experiences as a new mom and the newfound liberation that she has gained from it. “Sucker for Love” is one of the poppier songs on the album, a bit less experimental and more traditionally catchy and uplifting with some electronica thrown in for good measure – it is Robyn after all. The bridge especially makes me feel like I’m entering a video game which is something that both she and Madonna do so well on their dance tracks. Robyn says that the song is about the place you get into when you’re in a toxic relationship that you can’t get out of because you’re a “sucker” for the thrill of it all, but still maintaining your bad bitch energy and creating a space where you’re OK with telling the world to “f-ck off”, that this love can still make you feel empowered. Twenty-five-year-old me would be able to relate to this, but I feel like the thirty-year-old me is far more secure in what I deserve and we say no to toxic relationships over here. So while I don’t identify with the lyrics per se at this point in my life, it’s still a vibey tune that gives that “Robyn” comfort.

“Carry On” by Jungle

This one feels like it came straight out of a dream sequence that you never want to wake up from. This trio of Brits is already on their fifth album, but it seems that they just keep getting bigger and bigger with each project and have now reached arena tour status. Their last album was home to their platinum selling single “Back On 74” and the train has not stopped moving ever since. The background vocals over the yacht-rock vibe instrumental to “Carry On” is the perfect track to play as you breathe in the fresh spring air, which is exactly what I happen to be doing as I write this. It takes the doo-wop elements of the 50s and 60s and implements it into their own unique sound that they have crafted as their own, giving a tinge of nostalgia to something that still feels fresh. Lydia Kitto, the band’s lead singer, effortlessly lays her angelic voice onto the whimsical track that is complete with just the right amount of chimes to give you that magical feel. For those of us who are yearning for that “soft life”, the life that is filled with love and positive emotions in a calm setting, this is the soundtrack for that.

“BRITTANY MURPHY.” By Slayyyter

Blending electronic and hyperpop into one glossy package that is gay club-ready, Slayyyter is taking control on her third studio album and is delivering a stellar body of work. While the entire project has its highlights, it’s the track “BRITANNY MURPHY.” that stands out the most. Aside from the obvious first impression being that the song is named after Brittany Murphy, gone too soon, it’s sonically interesting and lyrically enticing. Using Brittany’s beauty and mystique as a metaphor for one’s own personal self-reflection, the song is introspective while still making you want to get on the dance floor. Slayyyter has always been heavily inspired by all things 2000s when it comes to both her music and aesthetic, so using Brittany as the reference point in this song feels right. In a recent interview, she talks about how Uptown Girls was one of her favourite films growing up. Music may be my main bag, but in the world of film I always maintain that Brittany Murphy was and will forever be my favourite actress, kudos to Slayyyter for having premium taste. She talks about how the themes of girlhood in the film resonated so deeply with her that she wanted to honour Brittany through her own music. While the song may not be about Brittany or her tragic death, it is Slayyyter’s way of honouring an icon who played an integral role in her formation as an artist and a woman.

“Volare / Nothing Is Impossible – Live from The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games” by Mariah Carey

Last Friday was Mariah’s anniversary (our queen doesn’t have birthdays) and she chose the occasion to gift us, the lambs, some new vocals as she knows that 3/27 is as much of a holiday for us as it is for her. Earlier this year, Mimi performed at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy and sang her way through an exquisite medley of the Italian staple “Volare” along with her own song “Nothing Is Impossible” which is from her most recent album Here for It All. The performance itself is, well, very Mariah in the most Mariah way possible. As always she sounded amazing but she was giving Barbie that doesn’t move. Between the high heels, tight gowns and overall aesthetic, it all was so perfectly Mariah, and I loved every second. The medley is now available for all of us to enjoy, with new vocals and an orchestral arrangement that takes the already inspirational track to new heights. Plus, Mariah singing in Italian is the gift I didn’t know I needed. Mimi has come close to performing in Italian, specifically in 1999 when she performed with Pavarotti during his Pavarotti & Friends concert special, a duet of her song “Hero”. She sang in English, he in Spanish, so 27 years later we finally get our own Mariah Italian moment. All these years later, she’s adding another entry to her wide range of linguistic musical compositions. Bet you didn’t know that Mariah also has an entire EP of her songs sung in Spanish? Maybe we need an entire Italian EP now because that signature angelic voice lends so perfectly to the ever so romantic language.

MC’s VIRAL PICK

“Drop” by Timbaland, Magoo, Fatman Scoop

Timbaland has made a name for himself as one of the most recognizable names in hip-hop and R&B. He has notably produced tunes for Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado. What’s less known however is that he also released a trio of albums with rapper Magoo as a duo act to some success. The first single from their sophomore album Indecent Proposal, “Drop”, made little to no noise back in 2001 when it was first released, but now it has found a new audience with content creators looking to flex their fitness abilities. The “Breathe in Breathe Out” challenge borrows the lines from the song’s chorus with what is supposed to be a challenging set of push-ups but make it choreo. This trend first caught my attention when my 20-year-old cousin saw a video of me doing 25 push-ups with some friends during an at-home dinner party – the wine was flowing what can I say? She then told me to do the “Breathe in Breathe Out” challenge which to my surprise already had hundreds of thousands of participants. Now it’s taken over my feed for the last two weeks, so naturally, I’m here to share it with all of you.

@aimmku I was about to fly man the clip cut too soon #pushupchallenge #breatheinbreatheout ♬ Drop (feat. Fatman Scoop) - Timbaland & Magoo

@miguel_harichi
Breath in, Breath out another day older … I couldn’t really hear the audio🫤
♬ KaylorKianna_ - Kaylor Kianna Harris

@performher @Miguel you think you better than me 🤨 #breatheinbreatheout #breatheinbreatheoutchallenge #pushups #pushupchallenge #miguelharichi ♬ KaylorKianna_ - Kaylor Kianna Harris

I can’t lie, that last one had me rolling on the floor laughing. If you take a look at some of the comments on different clips from the trend, you’ll see a few people trying to say how “easy” it is. It’s interesting how those people don’t post one themselves, because I’m here to tell you, it’s not an easy trend. I tried it, and I may not be the most muscular man but I know my way around a solid amount of push ups. It takes some real skill to do this trend, and contrary to what certain cocky creators have to say, if you can take part in this challenge, you get a pat on the back from me.

The 2026 “MC’s MUSIC LOUNGE” Spotify playlist is live. You can add it here to keep up to date with my weekly picks throughout the year.