RAYE has teamed up with Mark Ronson for a new single called ‘Suzanne’, and shared how she felt “nervous” working with the producer following comparisons to Amy Winehouse.
Shared today (June 13), the new single was written by Mark, RAYE, Tommy Brenneck and Eric Hagstrom, and marks the first collaboration between the London singer and the hit producer.
It comes following Ronson wanting to join forces with RAYE for a long time, and their coming together was catalysed by the APxMusic series, which celebrated 150 years of watchmaker Audemars Piguet.
“I’ve admired RAYE’s artistry for years now, watching her evolution from songwriter to the powerhouse artist she’s become. When Audemars Piguet brought us together through their APxMusic program, it felt like the stars aligning at exactly the right moment,” he said.
“This collaboration isn’t just another project – it’s something we’ve poured ourselves into completely…all night tracking sessions in London, New York and Los Angeles. The music we’ve created together carries both our musical DNA but takes us somewhere neither of us would have reached alone.”
“Everything about how this song came to exist, and this moment with Mark and AP, feels meant to be” RAYE added. “I used to work in Mark Ronson’s London studio when I was a baby artist focusing on my songwriting craft, and always dreamed of the day I could one day work with the musical genius that is Ronson.”
In an interview with PEOPLE backstage at Governors Ball in New York City, the ‘Escapism.’ singer also shared how she was initially a bit reluctant to work with Ronson due to comparisons between herself and Amy Winehouse – who Ronson worked with for the iconic ‘Back To Black’ album.
“Honestly, I’m not gonna lie, I actually was quite nervous and scared to work with him. I just do want to say that I know I can never, ever, ever, ever, ever attempt to replace or imitate Amy. I’m in awe of her. We all are, and we miss her,” she said.
“It’s quite a tough thing to even allow myself to create so freely with him, but I really just wanted to be like, ‘Do you know what? I just need to forget what anyone else is gonna say about this. I absolutely love this producer. I’ve always wanted to work with this producer since I was a little girl’.
“We’ve made music together that I’m so proud of, and I love. I play it, and it makes me happy and joyful, so I’m proud”.
Check out the new single above.
In other RAYE news, later this summer the multi-BRIT Award-winning singer-songwriter will top the bill at All Points East 2025, and the event will see support from Tyla, Doechii and former Little Mix member JADE. Visit here for any remaining tickets.
As for other music that has followed her huge 2023 debut album, ‘My 21st Century Blues’, RAYE released an ambitious and “deeply personal” single called ‘Genesis’ last summer – which she described as “a prayer, a plea and a cry for help”.
She later teamed up with Central Cee on his track ‘Moi’, and featured on ‘Born Again’ by BLACKPINK’s Lisa.
RAYE and Ronson’s second collaboration, ‘Grandma Calls the Boy Bad News’, is set to feature on the upcoming F1 soundtrack, which also features contributions from Ed Sheeran, Peggy Gou, Doja Cat, Tate McRae, Rosé, and more.
