Spotlight On: CORINNE BAILEY RAE

ABOUT this week’s podcast guest + radio hour featured interview:

The award-winning British artist Corinne Bailey Rae first came to international acclaim with her 2006 self-titled debut album, and especially the song “Put Your Records On”. The album was massive. It debuted at number one in the UK and Corinne Bailey Rae became the fourth female British act in history to have her first album debut at number one. In 2007, Corinne scored three Grammy nominations: Record of the Year, Song of the Year (both for “Put Your Records On”), and Best New Artist. She also was nominated for three BRIT awards, and won two MOBO awards. Personal tragedy struck in 2008 when her husband suddenly died of an accidental overdose, and Corinne Bailey Rae took a hiatus from music. Her next album, The Sea, featured songs written before and after his death, and was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2010. Next came The Heart Speaks In Whispers in 2016, which debuted at the top of Billboard’s R&B chart, and landed on many critics year end lists. The other side of repeated success is industry expectations, and sometimes even self-doubt about one’s ability to live up to previous work and achievements. Corinne Bailey Rae found her way to breaking free of all of that when she discovered the work of artist Theaster Gates and The Stony Island Arts Bank in Chicago. What began as something she was calling an art project, became Corinne Bailey Rae’s newest chapter, the critically hailed Black Rainbows, her fourth album and first in seven years, and an expansion of her musical and artistic universe to encompass music for contemporary dance, a book, live performances, visuals, lectures and exhibitions. Most importantly, following her muse and shedding preconceived notions of her creativity has led Corinne Bailey Rae to a transformative moment of reframing how she sees herself as an artist. I think Pitchfork said it best - "It sounds like a departure but feels like a renaissance". I am thrilled to welcome Corinne Bailey Rae as this week’s SHERO in the Spotlight.

A condensed version of this interview is featured on the SHEROES Radio hour this week. Here’s what else you’ll hear:

New music from:
Adrianne Lenker
Hurray For The Riff Raff

Brittany Howard

SHERO Birthdays: 

• Beth Gibbons (Portishead) - 1/4

• Katie & Allison Crutchfield (Waxahatchee) - 1/4

Listen to the syndicated public radio SHEROES Radio hour, below: