On a particularly grey Sunday in Manchester, Dyson and musician RAYE created an underground, immersive experience, bringing light and warmth to the February chill.
Inside the Gilt Nightclub in Hotel Gotham, musician and Dyson Ambassador RAYE offered fans a captivating day to both see behind the curtains of her genius and experience the Dyson Zones, headphones made with music aficionados specifically in mind. Within the intimate jazz bar, fans were treated to a bespoke audio experience using the Dyson Zone headphones which featured personal anecdotes from the record-breaking BRIT-nominated artist herself. RAYE’s hand-written lyrics, Ivor Novello Award and props used for her iconic album cover, ‘My 21st Century Blues’ were also on display and fans signed a guestbook with deeply moving messages to the artist herself. Dyson Ambassadors also attended the event including notable personalities such as Marvin Brooks, Jordan Hames, Erica Cody, Thalia Heffernan, and Aly Meghani.
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RAYE then surprised fans with a sensational acoustic performance, showcasing her truly incredible vocals over a series of her greatest hits including ‘Escapism’ and ‘Worth It’. Effortless runs, smooth deep vocals and a truly down-to-earth person, RAYE’s performance once again showcased her as a lasting talent on par with the likes of Nina Simone and Lauryn Hill. In the soft glow of the jazz bar, positioned beside a grand piano (which RAYE jokingly admits is actually a keyboard disguised within a grand piano) and surrounded by just fifty adoring fans, RAYE clearly belonged and the room watched on mesmerised.
RAYE returned to the stage in the evening in Manchester’s O2 Apollo to deliver another captivating performance for her most recent tour. The evening was an ode to her exceptional talents, astonishing range and shining personality. She declares the theme of the evening to be ‘honesty’, candidly sharing stories of her day and personal truths including her own struggles with body dysmorphia. She invites the crowd in, breaching serious topics such as sexual assault and moments later dropping jaws with her world-class vocals. From a rock rendition of her viral hit ‘Prada’, to a jazz arrangement of ‘Buss It Down’, to sitting at the piano taking requests for her older work including ‘Natalie Don’t’ and ‘Decline’, RAYE’s show is truly one-of-a-kind.
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Words: Grace Dodd
