Rachel Keen, better known by her stage name Raye, brought her vocals, awareness and hope to a sold-out tour stop of her North American leg in Phoenix, at the Arizona Financial Theatre on May 7.

“Phoenix, you guys are really living on the edge,” Raye said, referencing the desert trails she hiked before her show. 

Opening for Raye were her two younger sisters, Lauren Amma Keen, better known as “Amma,” and Abby-Lynn Keen, better known as “Absolutely.” Not only was this a big tour for Raye, but also a big tour for her family. 

Raye may be labeled as a pop artist, but her music and performance most closely resemble a mix of jazz and theatrical music. Her vocals are clear and strong, sending vibrations throughout the venue with every note. 

So many things make Raye timeless, but also new and fresh. She’s often compared to Amy Winehouse, and rightfully so, but I also see her as a mix of Olivia Dean, Fiona Apple and Adele. With her stage presence, production value and amazing songwriting, Raye truly delivers a show of heartbreak and perseverance.

At the beginning of her show, Raye humorously noted that her show is filled with very long stories because she likes to “talk a lot.” However, she is a beautiful storyteller who eloquently delivers a full experience with every song she sings.

As well as singing her own music, Raye covered “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra with her orchestra behind her. Though her orchestra was more intimate in her U.S. shows than in her European shows, she performed just as beautifully. Along with the orchestra setting the mood, her stage setup resembled a jazz bar. As she sang, Raye walked barefoot against the confetti on the floor, her choice of no-footwear has become a part of her uniqueness as an artist. 

She explained that her tour is about the emotional vulnerability of being a single woman trying to date in 2026. Raye’s witty remarks carried throughout the show, especially her urging new fans who have never heard of her not to “listen to the EPs, just stick to the albums.” 

The show then took a more serious turn. Raye brought awareness to sexual assault and depression with her songs “Lifeboat” and “Ice Cream Man,” where multiple audience members shed tears with the singer.

The colorful backdrop that read “Raye” was suddenly transformed into “Rave” for the nightclub dance section of the show, with a performance of the songs “Prada,” “Bed,” and one of her older songs, “You Don’t Know Me.” Strobing lights and a stampede of attendees jumping and cheering truly transformed the venue into a full nightclub experience.

"I’m not good at lying, so there will be an encore," said Raye before her final song, "Joy." She brought her sisters, Absolutely and Amma, back on stage to sing with her. I absolutely loved that each sister got their own moment to shine, but also came together at the end. Hopefully, in the future, we’ll see their fourth sister, Katelyn, join them on stage when she’s old enough.

For her encore, Raye performed “Escapism,” featuring 070 Shake, a song that fit the empowered single-woman theme introduced earlier, ending the night perfectly. The tour’s North American leg will end on May 13 with Raye’s last show in Los Angeles, but her impact will stay in North America until her return. Don’t forget her name, because I assure you her career will only grow bigger from here.